In the summer of 2023, with the support of the PRAGG project, the Association of Women with Disabilities "Impuls" from Bijeljina launched an initiative that soon gained strong public support, along with the backing of numerous organizations advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities. After a long wait, an important announcement has arrived – the Center for Social Work Bijeljina has issued the first Public Call for providers of personal assistance services. If everything goes according to plan, Bijeljina will become the third city in the Republic of Srpska to introduce this essential service, which can bring greater independence, dignity, and equal opportunities to persons with disabilities in their everyday lives.
As a reminder, the City Assembly of Bijeljina passed a Decision exactly 13 months ago regarding extended rights in the field of social protection, which included making Bijeljina the third local community in the Republic of Srpska to introduce the service of personal assistance. This type of social service, intended for citizens facing certain types of disabilities that prevent them from participating in a wide range of important social and daily activities, plays a crucial role in the inclusion of persons with disabilities in various social activities. It also gives family members who care for them the opportunity to attend to their own responsibilities while personal assistants spend time with persons with disabilities.
The chronic sluggishness of administrative processes resulted in a delay of more than six months between the adoption of the Decision on Extended Rights in the Field of Social Protection and the adoption of the Rulebook on Personal Assistance Services. Furthermore, it took an additional seven months from the adoption of the Rulebook to the announcement of the public call for personal assistance service providers. Had we been more efficient as a society, the practical implementation of personal assistance services for persons with disabilities might have already been in place for months - which was the goal of the initiative launched back in June 2023 by the Association of Women with Disabilities "Impuls" from Bijeljina, with the support of a significant portion of the public, as well as other stakeholders and organizations involved in advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities.
But… since we cannot turn back time, let’s take a look at what the Public Call entails and whether the provision of personal assistance services will finally be implemented in practice.
In the previous period, discussions between representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities and other associations, and the Center for Social Work, gave the impression that the Public Call would remain open for 30 days. However, organizations—potential service providers—were given only 15 days to meet strict application procedures. The three most important requirements stipulate that these organizations must: (1) be registered to provide personal assistance services in accordance with the law and listed in the appropriate registry with the competent authorities, (2) have at least two trained personal assistants, and (3) be headquartered within the territory of the City of Bijeljina.
At this moment, it is unclear whether there is a single civil society organization in Bijeljina that meets the first two conditions. The deadlines set for the application of interested organizations to provide personal assistance services are such that, if no organization currently fulfills the specified requirements, it is unlikely that anyone will be able to complete the application process in time. This raises concerns that the personal assistance service may not be launched even after the first public call.
It is worth recalling that the 2024 budget of the City of Bijeljina allocated 20,000 BAM for personal assistance services. However, not a single convertible mark has been spent for this purpose due to delays in the adoption of the Rulebook on Personal Assistance and, ultimately, the announcement of the public call for service providers. An opportunity was also missed to use these funds to promote the service and support interested organizations in preparing for the public call and the eventual start of personal assistance service provision.
In the 2025 budget, the City of Bijeljina has allocated 60,000 BAM for personal assistance services. However, by the time the public call announced by the Center for Social Work is completed, five months will have passed—during which nearly half of the planned funds should already have been spent. This raises many questions that will need to be addressed in the coming period.
Indeed, the situation surrounding the introduction of personal assistance services in Bijeljina is quite delicate. For this service to be truly implemented, further consultations with the Center for Social Work Bijeljina are necessary - particularly regarding the conditions outlined in the public call. It may also be essential to secure an extension of the call’s duration to allow more time for potential service providers to meet the requirements and ensure the service can be launched effectively.
It is essential that organizations of persons with disabilities, as well as other civil society organizations, are encouraged through meetings and dialogue to take on the responsibility of helping establish this process. Only then can persons with disabilities in Bijeljina truly experience the impact and benefits of personal assistance services.
For this purpose, it is also necessary that the City of Bijeljina and its institutions be involved in the process to ensure the prompt and high-quality establishment of this service. Their support and active participation will be crucial in making personal assistance services a reality for persons with disabilities in the city.
You can download the Public Call at the following link.
