December 2^nd

On the occasion of December 3^rd, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Nis City Mayor Darko Bulatovic and his associates met with the representatives of associations and organizations at the City Hall. The meeting focused ​​the need to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities, equality of human rights and equal participation in all segments of public life. Social and health care issues, legal safety at work, employment of people with disabilities, as well as media promotion and support in the realization of rights – are some of the key issues highlighted on this occasion. Nis City Mazor Darko Bulatovic, noted that the City allocated almost double amount this year compared to previous practice. “It’s a modest contribution – says the mayor – but also a sincere indicator of how much we think about you, or, perhaps, the most significant, how much we will think of you in the future, because you are an important part of the society, because we are all the same.” The integration of persons with disabilities into the areas of public, political, economic and cultural life of the city, removal of physical and social barriers, respect for dignity, as well as the realization of social, economic, educational and health rights, represents an important legal and ethical obligation of the City of Nis. An active employment policy for disabled people has been recognized as one of the primary goals of local self-government. At the republic level, Nis is the city that invested most funds for employment of people with disabilities. On this occasion, Bulatovic said: “I want you to feel the support of the City of Nis, to feel as a significant and useful part of our society, to feel this house as your own.”

October 17^th

City of Nis officials today talked about protection of citizens with Ombudsman of Serbia Zoran Pasalić about the state of human rights and ways to improve the exercise of citizens’ rights in the territory of the City of Nis. According to the Deputy Mayor Milos Bandjur the City of Nis is different from other cities in Serbia because the Mayor, together with his associates, meets the citizens every Monday to discuss their problems.  So far, the Mayor has spoken to more than 1,000 fellow citizens and many of their problems have been solved. Ombudsman Pasalic thanked the city management for the cooperation so far and pointed out that, in many areas, Nis is leading local self-government compared to other cities in Serbia He pointed out that City of Nis was the leader in solving social issues concerning the people with disabilities, elderly citizens, the inclusion of minority groups, and that the problems that citizens most often complain about were property issues and the inefficient administration in solving many issues. Nis City Ombudsman Sanja Stojancic pointed out on this occasion that the citizens complained mainly in regard to the bills for communal services. The Office of Nis City Ombudsman has processed over 620 cases since the beginning of this year.

April 24^th

City of Nis has won the award for contribution to the development of all forms of accessibility in the competition conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman. The award was received on the behalf of the City of Nis. Mrs. Tijana Djordjevic Ilic, Nis City Council Member.

According to Mrs. Tijana Djordjevic Ilic the City of Nis won first place for strategic thinking and proactive approach in the development of accessibility in the competition of 22 cities and municipalities. “The city participated in the contest with the publication” Guide to the Rights and Subsidies for People with Disabilities in Nis “, and with media presentations of city administration activities on comprehensive improvement of the situation for persons with disabilities,” as Mrs. Tijana Djordjevic Ilic said. She added that this award was important recognition for local self-government and incentive to work in this area in cooperation with associations of persons with disabilities, to make Nis more accessible in every sense. Đorđević Ilić stressed that the Commission made up of the representatives of the Office of the Ombudsman, the Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit of the Government of Serbia and the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, recognized that Nis was a positive example of accessibility at the local level and truly applied rules and implement strategic documents that have been adopted to improve the situation of people with disabilities in our city.