A street campaign was held in the center of Doboj to collect signatures in support of introducing personal assistance services for people with disabilities. The campaign was organized by activists of the Coalition of Organizations of People with Disabilities from the Doboj region, gathered around the initiative for a dignified life and equal participation of people with disabilities in the community.

A large number of citizens showed their support for the initiative to ensure the rights of people with disabilities to live independently and to have adequate support in their daily activities. Personal assistance is not a luxury, but a basic need and a prerequisite for full inclusion and respect for human rights.

"The support we received today and over the past weeks from fellow citizens and beyond gives us additional strength and clearly shows that the community recognizes the importance of this service. We hope that the authorities will also recognize the importance of ensuring a dignified life for all citizens, including people with disabilities, as well as the fact that this type of support for people with disabilities also contributes to the employment of assistants", stated the organizers of the campaign.

This activity is part of a broader campaign aimed at establishing a system of personal assistance in Doboj, in line with good practice examples from other cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The organizers are planning further advocacy steps, including meetings with decision-makers and public information events.

The introduction of this service would enable people with disabilities to live independently, make decisions about their own lives, and participate in society on an equal basis with others. Although Bosnia and Herzegovina is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, there is still a lack of systemic solutions in practice to provide the necessary support for daily life. Through this campaign, we aim to highlight the need for personal assistance to be established as a permanent and accessible service, in line with international standards and human rights principles.

Together for a dignified life – because nothing about us without us!