Press statement | 14.10.2016

International Day of White Cane

On the occasion of the International Day of White Cane, which is celebrated on 15 October, Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina indicate that the rights of the blind and visually impaired people are multiple limited and discriminatory, especially when it comes to access to justice. As an example the Ombudsmen indicate that for a party to the court proceedings, who is a blind person, there is no possibility of getting court records and prepare written in Braille or in some other way, through the assistive methods.

Also, although the applicable laws in Bosnia and Herzegovina defined the availability of polling stations and the voting persons with disabilities with the help of another person, in practice the situation is different because a large number of polling posts are not adapted in architectural sense, nor are ballots adapted for blind people (eg . Braille or via audio instructions and vote, or to vote by telephone). Such situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina makes questionable the active and passive voting rights of people with disabilities and their active participation in political and public life.

One of the problems encountered by the blind and visually impaired persons is certainly a low level of use of Braille, as well as the poor distribution of specialized equipment such as Braille printers, Braille devices and other devices and accompanying software. The reason for this is extremely high prices or lack of interest and insufficient education of blind and visually impaired persons. In Bosnia and Herzegovina or its entities and the Brčko District there are not regulations for guide dogs, whose acquisition and training for blind and partially sighted persons cost 12,000.00 Euros, and there are no special funds allocated for guide dogs food.

The Ombudsmen emphasize that all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina have right to live independently, achieving full legal capacity and inclusion in the community as equal members of society. However, inclusion in community cannot be achieved if the society did not provide for adequate conditions.

The Ombudsmen of Bosnia and Herzegovina invite competent entity, cantonal and Brčko District authorities to take concrete measures for inclusion of the blind and visually impaired people through ensuring accessibility of the official website, training of relevant stakeholders on the accessibility of the services provided, introduction in the curriculum of educational institutions in the field of information technology and adherence to international standards WAI. The Ombudsmen also indicate the necessity for training of persons with disabilities on use of modern aids, which should be simultaneous with the determination of the right to their use.

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We are protecting rights of natural persons and legal entities in accordance with the Constitution of BiH and international human rights instruments...
Ombudsmen of BiH

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