CIL Serbia organised another SKYPE working groups meeting on December 23rd 2020.

All activities are realised according to Project plan, although due to current epidemiologic situation there were no possibility to organise any of them in direct contact.

All other activities will be realised as planned. 

CIL Leskovac organised workshop on Poverty reduction and specificity of poverty of persons with disability. Workshop was held on October 20th and were attended by 22 persons with disability and their PAs.

Retailers must not discriminate against any customers using their service either in-store or online. This legal requirement still applies during the coronavirus pandemic, when many retailers will be adapting how they deliver their services due to social distancing and online delivery slot pressures.

This guide is a reminder of:

• your legal responsibilities to customers to make sure you are not discriminating
• your obligations to provide reasonable adjustments for disabled customers 

Four steps to ensure you are making reasonable adjustments

Step 1. Provide a service that meets all customer needs

• Be aware that the law protects customers from direct and indirect discrimination
• You must make adjustments for disabled people to use your service, where reasonable

Step 2. Plan ahead for your customer needs

• You must anticipate and prepare in advance to meet the needs of disabled customers
• Consider and make changes to your store’s policies, procedures and physical environment

Step 3. Communicate with your customers

• Tell them about the support available through different forms of communication
• Ask them if they need extra support
• Keep in mind that some customers may need you to remove your face mask if they lip read

Step 4. Provide staff training

• Show staff how to help customers shop safely while social distancing
• Ensure they can support customers with a range of impairments, including less visible disabilities
• Explain government guidelines on face coverings to make sure they don’t discriminate against disabled people

Why this is important

If you make decisions that discriminate against customers with protected characteristics, such as older or disabled customers, you may be at risk of:

• having a claim brought against you
• costly compensation fees
• reputational damage

Following equality law helps you as a retailer to contribute to a fairer society where everyone is valued and has the same access to services.

Good retailers not only understand the ethical case for providing reasonable adjustments, but they also know that it brings financial rewards by expanding their customer base.

PA Training was realised in Belgrade for 12 attendants – 11 from Belgrade and one from Sabac – from 25th until 27ts of September. Training was held in Center for care of children, elderly and persons with disability.

Within the project Walk the talk with persons with disability, CIL Serbia organise ZOOM training for 15 attendants with disability from 8-12 of June.

This training is aimed to raise their capacities in participation in political life in Serbia. 

Within Balkan Independent Network project CIL SErbia organised forming new working groups in area of Social protection, Education, Employment, Accessibility and Political participation.

Due to epidemiological situation, working group leaders will organise online meetings to inform group members of next steps within this project. 

Brussels, 5th May 2020 – This year’s European Independent Living Day is a day like no other. With much of the world under lockdown, most of us are celebrating the day indoors, keeping safe, with only the most necessary contact with those on the outside. Many are struggling with the lack of assistance, lack of food, isolation, mental health issues, fear of being denied medical treatment. Many have been quarantined in institutions, with zero contact to the outside world.

When the European Network on Independent Living chose “liberty” as the theme for the 7th Independent Living day, we could not begin to imagine that so many would have their liberty restricted or denied. Yet, while we cannot organise protests, meetings, conferences or meet ups, we can use this situation to raise awareness about the importance of Independent Living.

For decades, the Independent Living movement has been calling for the closure of institutions. Despite evidence of abuse and human rights violations in institutional settings, there are still many that claim they are safer than living in the community. Now that thousands have died and are dying in institutions and older people’s homes, is this not enough proof that these places are not suitable for living?

For many disabled people, restrictions on movement and social contact are a part of everyday life, due to the lack of support or lack of accessibility. Now that everyone has felt the effect of not being able to leave their homes, go to school or to work, to meet up with friends, is this not enough to understand the importance of being part of society for all?

Today is a day to celebrate freedom, liberty and Independent Living. Let us learn lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and make our societies safer and accessible to all.

ENIL calls on the Governments and the EU institutions to make a commitment to protecting the right to live independently and being included in the community of all disabled people, in line with Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Specifically, they should:

1. Listen to the voices of disabled people, especially those that are most marginalised, such as those living in institutions, and prioritise their rights over economic and other interests.

2. Make a commitment to closing down all institutions and ensure all current and future investments are directed to strengthening community-based support and developing inclusive mainstream services.

3. Protect the rights of disabled people, of all ages, in the post-COVID 19 planning, and take into consideration lessons learnt from the current situation for the future, including the inherent danger of institutional care settings.