On December 3, 2024, in celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Association of Persons with Disabilities Belgrade organized a panel discussion titled “Support for the Position of Persons with Disabilities in Society” at the Zvezdara Municipal Assembly. The event gathered numerous representatives from institutions, organizations, and associations working on the rights and integration of people with disabilities, as well as interested citizens.
Gordana Pušara, President of the Association of Persons with Disabilities Belgrade and member of the DI-MARC project team, welcomed all attendees and emphasized the significant role of support that society must provide to people with disabilities. She highlighted that the role of the community in the integration and inclusion of persons with disabilities is crucial in ensuring equal access to all aspects of life, including education, employment, and social participation.
Ivana Domazet, a member of the DI-MARC project team from the Institute of Economic Sciences, stressed the importance of the training currently being carried out as part of this innovative project, which enables people with physical disabilities to enhance their digital skills and gain key competencies in digital marketing. Through these training programs, participants with physical disabilities not only become more competitive in the job market, but also open up new professional opportunities. Currently, 25 individuals with physical disabilities are actively participating in classroom training, and the DI-MARC project team will soon begin preparing online courses that will be available on the DI-MARC YouTube channel. Starting next year, these online training courses will be accessible to all persons with physical disabilities, allowing them to continue their education in flexible conditions tailored to their needs and pace. This approach not only reduces digital exclusion but also provides equal access to the labor market, significantly improving employment prospects and personal development for participants. It paves the way for their full integration into society, empowering them to actively participate in all its segments.
On behalf of the Zvezdara Municipal Assembly, the attendees were addressed by the President of the Municipality, Mihajlo Dosković, who emphasized the continuous commitment of the local government to supporting people with disabilities. Biljana Rakić, Assistant Minister of the Ministry for Family and Demography, presented measures to assist families and persons with disabilities, stressing that the Ministry is dedicated to providing all necessary resources to ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities to live and develop. Juliјana Stanisavljević, a representative of the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, highlighted the importance of the support provided by the Ministry to persons with disabilities, as well as the ongoing improvement of social policies that enable their greater inclusion in the workforce and society as a whole. Biljana Todorović, Head of the Department of the National Employment Service (NSZ), emphasized the importance of NSZ’s support in the employment of persons with disabilities. She pointed out that the employment of people with disabilities is a priority for NSZ, which offers various forms of support and tailored employment programs to ensure their inclusion in the labor market.
The panel discussion provided an opportunity for exchanging experiences, presenting current challenges and solutions, and highlighting the importance of continuous support from all segments of society for people with disabilities. This event marks an important step towards improving the living and working conditions for people with disabilities in Serbia.
