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Self-advocates claim for their rights in Croatia

There was a meeting in Croatia. Self-advocates from Croatia participated in the meeting. They said that self-advocates have the same rights as other people. They asked organisations and institutions to protect their rights. You can read the easy-to-read version of the speech here.

‘Me and You - We Are the Same. To Live Like All Other People’, the title of the first conference of Croatian self-advocates, was a demand to their right to have rights. In their statement, self-advocates asked for concrete changes on the effective application of the rights of people with disabilities in Croatia. They asserted their right to inclusive education, to have access to the professional market and live independently, to enjoy legal capacity or contribute to the community, amongst others. Self-advocates called upon relevant bodies to take action in order to make the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities a reality.

The conference was held in Zagreb on 1 April 2011 and brought together self-advocates from 11 Croatian cities. The act was opened by Dr. Izet Aganovic, the personal envoy of the President of the Republic of Croatia, who invited self-advocates to meet with President Josipovic.

Ms. Anka Slonjsak, Ombudswoman for persons with disabilities, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Fund for professional rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities gave their presentations at the Conference. Members of Parliament, local authorities, associations and other guests gave their support to the work of the Croatian self-advocates.

Inclusion Europe welcomes this initiative by Croatian self-advocates to raise awareness on their rights call upon Croatian institutions to promote real changes towards social inclusion.