At its twenty-third sitting, held on 28 March, the Committee on Labour, Ex-Servicemen’s and Social Issues discussed and in principle endorsed the Bill on Prevention of Discrimination against Disabled Persons, proposed by the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

Presenting the Bill, the Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Policy, Slobodan Lalovic, said that it was the first of a package of laws regulating the field. According to Mr Lalovic, a bill on employment and rehabilitation of disabled persons can be expected to enter Assembly procedure shortly.

Mr Lalovic underlined that Serbia had undertaken the obligation to adopt legislation relating to persons with disabilities, as they number as much as 10% of the population. The Bill on Prevention of Discrimination against Disabled Persons foresees respect of disabled persons’ rights as stipulated by the UN Charter, including prohibition of direct and indirect discrimination, fosters integration of disabled persons into all aspects of society, based on principles of equality, and promotes their inclusion into decision-making in areas that affect them. The Government is also to propose an amendment that would introduce penalties for discrimination, rather than merely requiring that ‘infringement of rights’ is noted.

Mr Lalovic also stressed that 2006 was declared Equal Opportunity Year, and that many activities were planned to sensitise the public.

The Committee discussed 16 amendments proposed by deputies. Two became integral parts of the Bill’s text, while the remainder are to be discussed at the upcoming National Assembly sitting.