On the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3, CIVIL organized a panel discussion titled “Ramp”, dedicated to (un)acceptance of persons with disabilities in society, as well as to the processes of deinstitutionalization and access to services of institutions at the local and national level. The aim of this day is to raise public awareness, understanding and acceptance of persons with disabilities.
We dedicate this edition of SCAN – political video magazine precisely to the ramps in society, their symbolism, but also physical need for persons with disabilities. On the list of requests is also CIVIL’s demand for equal treatment, equality and, above all, respect for their human rights and freedoms.
CIVIL demands for persons with disabilities to be part of the decision-making structures, to be directors, managers, executives, MPs, members of Government. For the ramp to be raised and for them to be given equal opportunities in this society, which we see for some time striving to build one society for all. CIVIL in its first year of existence, almost 20 years ago, realized one of the first activities as an organization – setting up an access ramp, the first one to be set up, cooperation between a non-governmental organization and a state institution.
Participants at the panel included Sandra Pesevska Mickovska, disability rights activist, Blagica Dimitrovska from the Association “Inkluziva”, the Mayor of the City of Skopje, Petre Silegov, Vangel Trkaljanov and Dusan Tomsic from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.
The struggle for full inclusion of persons with disabilities is difficult and tough. Stereotypes, discrimination, prejudice, hate speech, marginalization are social, political, economic and social inconsistencies that this category of people face every day. Strengthening public awareness, changing mentality of citizens through education and information are obviously not enough. What even the very people with disabilities urge for as well are urgent measures for protection of their human rights and freedoms with equal respect like all other people in the country and in the world.
Biljana Jordanovska
Camera: Atanas Petrovski
in cooperation with Arian Mehmeti and Xhabir Deralla
Translation: Natasa Cvetkovska
