At the invitation of Eurochild, the Network of Organisations for Children of Serbia (MODS) participated in a European Commission conference marking the European Day of Persons with Disabilities, held in Brussels on 4 and 5 December. The event brought together representatives of EU institutions, international organisations and civil society organisations to exchange experiences and good practices, while also highlighting key challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
With an estimated 90 million persons with disabilities living in Europe today, the conference focused on issues such as the right to independent living and community inclusion, freedom of movement, access to the labour market, availability of services and support, and the role of public policies in ensuring dignity, equality and full participation in society. Particular emphasis was placed on the need for policies to be informed by the lived experiences of persons with disabilities, recognising that many of the barriers encountered in adulthood originate in childhood, underscoring the importance of early, systemic and preventive approaches.
The conference was attended by Mirjana Džuverović on behalf of MODS, as well as Adriana Gotsova-Valkova from the CEDAR Foundation (Bulgaria).