The Poverty Reduction Committee commemorated the International Day of Disabled Persons by visiting the City of Nis on 3 December and the Home for Disabled Adults and the Elderly in Doljevac, and by holding a sitting outside the seat of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, in the form of a public hearing – a roundtable in Leskovac, on 4 December 2008, in the Jablanica District building.

The National Assembly’s Delegation consisted of the members of the Poverty Reduction Committee, Committee on Labour, Ex-Servicemen’s and Social Issues, Committee on Health and the Family, Education Committee, Agriculture Committee, Local Self-Government Committee and Gender Equality Committee and deputies. The visit to Leskovac was also attended by the National Assembly Deputy Speaker, Nikola Novakovic and the Assistant Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Vladimir Pesic. The Delegation was headed by the Poverty Reduction Committee Chairperson, Snezana Stojanovic Plavsic.

On 3 December 2008, in Nis in the hall of the Regional centre for professional development of employees in the education sector, the National Assembly’s delegation held a meeting with the Mayor of Nis, Milos Simonovic and associates, as well as representatives of local authority and non-government organisations dealing with the problems of disabled persons, the position of marginalised groups and other aspects of poverty. Greeting all present, the Poverty Reduction Committee Chairperson Snezana Stojanovic Plavsic pointed out that, at the initiative and in the organisation of the Poverty Reduction Committee, all the listed Committees participate in the project of “Strengthening parliamentary committees’ capacities for poverty reduction in Serbia” which is being implemented by the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme and the support of the European Commission since 2006. Stojanovic Plavsic pointed out that the National Assembly does not hold sessions exclusively in Belgrade but everywhere where citizens wish to speak to the deputies. The Mayor of Nis, Milos Simonovic, stressed that an equal opportunities policy must be the basis of all levels of social activities. He also briefed the participants on the city authorities’ plans, like working on a strategy of local social reform and a local action plan under the slogan: Child-friendly Nis.

Following the opening speeches, a discussion was opened where the participants asked the deputies questions and pointed out the difficulties they face every day. The participants of the meeting discussed the problems of unemployment, education, legal regulations and socialisation of disabled persons. A press conference was held after the meeting.

In Doljevac, on 4 December, the National Assembly’s Delegation visited the Home for Disabled Adults and the Elderly. In the talk with the deputies, the Director of the Home, Lidija Ljutica and her associated briefed those present on the organisation of the institution which started work on 1 September 2004. The Home’s capacity is a hundred beds, which makes it the second biggest home of its kind in Serbia. From the very beginning the issue of the Home’s water supply was unsolved, as well as the number of posts for medical staff. Presenting the work of the Poverty Reduction Committee, Snezana Stojanovic Plavsic stressed that the Committee members have passed a decision to commemorate the International Day of Disabled Persons (3 December) by visiting the most endangered areas. By this visit, we wish to establish good communication and connection between the local authorities and other state institutions, Stojanovic Plavsic pointed out.

In the visit to Leskovac, a press conference was held in the Jablanica District building, comprising the deputies, National Assembly Deputy Speaker, Nikola Novakovic, Assistant Minister of Labour and Social Policy, as well as the Head of the Jablanica Administrative District. The third sitting of the Poverty Reduction Committee was held in the continuation, in the form of a public hearing – roundtable entitled “Local mechanisms for the realisation of rights of disabled persons in the area of education, employment, services and accessibility”.