BASIC DATA ABOUT PWD IN SERBIA Generally speaking, the problems that the PWD are face, prejudice and attitudes towards public opinion, the social and economic situation in which they are located, make them a highly vulnerable and marginalized group. Protection of persons with disabilities is one of the most important elements of social, development, economic and social policy of society, and the attitude towards vulnerable groups represents the achieved level of consciousness and advancement of the society itself.

BASIC DATA ABOUT PWD IN SERBIA Based on the assessment of the European Agency for Reconstruction, carried out in 2006 as the initial year for the implementation of the First Strategy for the Improving of the Position of Persons with Disabilities (PWD), there are between 700.000 and 800.000 PWD in Serbia (which is the average number of people with disabilities in EU countries - 12% of the total population).

KEY REGULATIONS IN SERBIA ABOUT THE PWD Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) - is the first human rights treaty adopted under the auspices of the United Nations in the new Millennium. Serbia ratified CRPD and the Optional Protocol to it on May 29, 2009. Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of the PWD Law on Social Protection Law from the field of education Law on Using a Guide Dog Law on Using Facsimile Signature Law on Using Sign Language Law on Spatial Planning and Construction etc.

THE POSITION OF PWD IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA The position of PWD in the Republic of Serbia and the problems they face were looked at by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, who made appropriate recommendations. Among the main challenges, this committee recognized: - the employment of PWD in general and especially in the open labor market with reasonable accommodation, - preventing multiple discrimination in particular women and girls with disabilities, - deinstitutionalizing children with disabilities, - promoting the ability of PWD to enable independent decision making, - developing a comprehensive accessibility plan and encouraging the application of universal design in all areas, - collecting and processing statistical data on PWD and services which are provided to them

SOCIO-ECONOMIC POSITION OF PWD IN SERBIA According to the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, 70% of people with disabilities in the Republic of Serbia are poor, and more than half of them live by various social benefits. In 2016, through the National Employment Service, 4.778 persons with disabilities employed, an increase of 45% over the previous year. Children and families of children with disabilities face significant difficulties in accessibility and quality of social, health and education services, and families with children with disability are particularly confronted with problems of discrimination, poverty and limited financial support.

WORK AND EMPLOYMENT Employment of people with disabilities as one of the most vulnerable social groups is a key aspect of their greater involvement in society, the fight against social isolation, the way of securing economic independence, the realization of basic needs and the protection of human dignity. According to the National Employment Service (NES), at the end of 2017, there were 14.983 people with disabilities on the register of the unemployed. For programs of active employment policy for persons with disabilities in 2017, 550.000.000,00 dinars were defined (about 4,5 million EUR), and a total of 6,806 persons were included.

Work and employment The biggest problems regarding the employment of PWD in Serbia are: low qualification structure of these persons, a narrow choice of professions in vocational schools according to the special program and insufficient financial incentives. Due to this situation on the labor market, but for the purpose of creating an inclusive society, the disability movement constantly insists on full inclusive education. Also, the practice shows a still low level of employer motivation for employment of this category of persons, which is mainly based on the existence of prejudices. However, a positive shift can be noticed, bearing in mind that 19.3% more persons with disabilities were employed in the NES in 2016 compared to the previous year (in total, 5,860 persons with disabilities, of which 40.37% are women), and five times more than in 2009.

DISCRIMINATION OF PWD In terms of discrimination, even though de jure prohibition of discrimination and promotion of equality of persons with disabilities exist, they are still de facto discriminated in almost all aspects of the private and social life which is, among other things, a consequence of the lasting practice of segregation of persons with disabilities, rooted stereotyped attitudes and prejudice against persons with disabilities. As a base of discrimination against PWD, in terms of the frequency of complaints with the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, in 2017 - disability ranked first. Also, in the previous years, the frequency of complaints based on disability was among the first four, but it is evident that the number of complaints on this basis increases. On the other hand, the increased number of complaints does not mean that persons with disabilities are more discriminated, but points to greater empowerment of persons with disabilities and their associations to recognize discrimination and seek protection.

KEY CHALLENGES For the full involvement of people with disabilities in the community, it is necessary to further develop the processed processes through the full implementation of the adopted regulations. In particular, this relates to the development of social support services, which is a key precondition for inclusion and full participation (services for personal assistants, escort service for children, day care centers, work centers etc.) This process must be carried out simultaneously with the ongoing de-institutionalization process. Deinstitutionalization can not only mean reducing the number of persons in particular social care institutions or health care facilities, but rather allowing the return of persons to the community.

KEY CHALLENGES Also, social entrepreneurship needs to be developed, but they must continue to promote inclusive education so that people with disabilities can be employed in the open labor market as much as possible, thereby reducing the level of their poverty.