“Personal assistance enables persons with disabilities to live independently, choose, participate, and contribute to society. In Republika Srpska, this service is still limited, while needs are real and daily. Persons with disabilities who need a personal assistant have the right to independent living; until now, we have mostly depended on our families. We want the authorities to understand us, to realize that we do not have sufficient support, and that our desire for independence is natural and justified,” was the message from today’s gathering in Doboj.

The Coordination Board of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities Doboj (KOOSI) today, on 5 December 2025, on International Volunteer Day, organized a Forum of Accountability in the premises of the Association of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of the Doboj Region, in order to summarize this year’s activities and make their work more visible, both within the local community and to the wider public.

We remind that International Volunteer Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on 17 December 1985 and has since been marked every year on 5 December.

These activities are implemented by the Coalition of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities Doboj within the PRAGG project, with the aim of introducing personal assistance in the City of Doboj.

“The Forum is an opportunity to present the activities implemented so far, exchange experiences, and analyze the next steps required for the full realization of this important right for persons with disabilities – and that is the introduction of personal assistance in the City of Doboj. We started our activities in April and on 19 September 2025 submitted an Initiative to the Mayor of Doboj and the City Assembly to adopt the necessary act that would enable us to receive personal assistance. Our activities were carried out under the motto ‘Personal assistance is not a privilege – it is a need,’” said Jelena Mišić, activity coordinator.

The Coordination Board guided the activities jointly implemented by KOOSI members – the Association of Paraplegics, Childhood Paralysis Survivors and Other Persons with Physical Disabilities of the Doboj Region; the Association of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of the Doboj Region; the Association of Amputees Doboj; the Inter-Municipal Organization of Blind and Visually Impaired Persons Doboj; the Association of Workers with Disabilities Doboj; the Volleyball Club for Persons with Disabilities “OKI” Doboj; and the Association for Assistance to Children with Special Needs Doboj.

At the organized Forum of Accountability, the achieved results within the campaign were summarized, challenges within the advocacy process and partnership activities were highlighted, and the upcoming steps identified, which should result in the introduction of personal assistance in Doboj. For their part, representatives of local authorities shared their understanding of the role of the local community and institutions in ensuring the sustainability of this future service that will be available to persons with disabilities.

“Personal assistance enables persons with disabilities to live independently, choose, participate, and contribute to society. In Republika Srpska this service is still limited, while needs are real and daily. Persons with disabilities who need a personal assistant have the right to independent living; until now we have mostly depended on our families. We want the authorities to understand us, to realize that we do not have sufficient support, and that our desire for independence is natural and justified,” was emphasized at today’s gathering in Doboj.

Participants at the Forum pointed to the problems they face, such as isolation, the struggle for independence, and communication barriers. They highlighted their feelings when they have to ask someone for help and the difficulties in coping with everyday tasks such as going to the store, going to the doctor, and more.

“Personal assistance means the possibility of choice, it means living in the community and not in isolation. It means freedom. And we want to live independently,” are the key conclusions from today’s gathering of persons with disabilities in Doboj, which are also messages to the authorities and the public on International Volunteer Day.

In the area of the City of Doboj, according to the latest data available to KOOSI, there are a total of 1,650 persons, out of whom 50 percent are financed under the basic right to social protection. A total of 891 users of additional rights have been recorded, including the category of personal assistance. There is no precise data on how many of these are potential users of personal assistance, nor on possible priorities.