Explaining the “Roadmap to deinstitutionalisation in the Republic of Serbia” aimed at bringing persons with disabilities back from closed institutions and isolation into the family and open communities, Deputy Ombudsperson Vladana Jovic highlighted the paramount importance of drafting a strategy to address the problem of persons with mental disorders. Jovic said that this is multi-sector problem and requires equal involvement of all relevant institutions, which is why she believes said strategy should be a common one that should ensure coordination in the process of deinstitutionalisation.
“We should draft and Action Plan and launch pilot projects in the institutions where the biggest violations of personal rights were noticed, remove the users from them and prevent them from filling up again”, concluded Jovic.
Committee Chairman Meho Omerovic said that the “Roadmap to deinstitutionalisation in the Republic of Serbia” is a big step forward in regulating the problem of persons with mental disorders as it points to clear tasks and can serve as a rulebook and guideline to the MPs as they tackle the problem. Omerovic also believes that it is the Committee’s duty to insist that the executive power and the ministries draft a strategy as an umbrella document from which action plans and specific tasks can be drawn.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Meho Omerovic.