The Government delegated the responsibility of drafting the National Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities (NAPPD) to the Office of the Prime Minister/Office of Good Governance, Human Rights and Equal Opportunities (OPM/OGG).
On the basis of these responsibilities, the Office of the Prime Minister/Office of Good Governance, Human Rights and Equal Opportunities had led the drafting process and it has coordinated cooperation with all respective Government institutions at the central and local level, and with international experts, different organizations which represent Persons with Disabilities in Kosovo and Little People of Kosovo participated actively in this process.
The Government in its 62nd meeting held on 29 April 2009, continuing to take responsibility for fulfilling its program obligations, on this occasion approved the National Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities for the years 2009 – 2011.
In order to be more transparent and to inform the public about this process, the OPM/OGG organized a conference to launch the National Working Plan for Persons with Disabilities.
The approval of this plan also has a symbolic importance, since for the first time in Kosovo a document was approved which clearly shows what we have to do as institutions, but also as society to improve the quality of life of all Persons with Disabilities in Kosovo .
The Conference to launch the National Working Plan for Persons with Disabilities was held on 23 May 2009.
Respect to all the woman of the world and I wish you that every day seems as this one – International Women’s Day. Let us remember that female gender makes half the population of the planet and among them every 10th woman with temporary or permanent psychophysical disabilities, and we seek effective participation in a society based on indiscrimination and equality with everyone else. Special measures are needed at all levels to integrate them into the mainstream of development.
Girls and women with disabilities of any age are more vulnerable and marginalized groups of society, and therefore, they are being discriminated against on bases of gender and disabilities, and especially if they belong to a minority group.
Mothers with disabilities require special support in services pertinent to fostering of their babies.
Women, and especially women with disabilities are often exposed to a violation of instilled dignity of a human being.
Admitting that life of women with or without psychophysical disabilities in itself is not an easy task, and we are often victims of violence, exploitation and abuse in family and in broader environment, we are often exposed to human trafficking, our freedom of movement is often limited due to patriarchal prejudice or barriers in the environment where we move, we comprise a high percentage in rate of mortality, poverty and illiteracy, and we have a lower percentage of participation in high business, higher education, and higher instances of authority.
Remembering that men in the U.S. are number one lobbyists for women's rights and are giving enormous contribution toward equality of the sexes, we call upon you dear fathers, brothers, sons, husbands, colleagues don't forget us tomorrow, we ask for your partnership for respect toward human diversity in regards to sex (gender), race, limited psychophysical abilities, age, ethnic origin, nationality or any other criteria, and together with you we comprise humankind.
In cooperation with men we can achieve the goals of the 21st century in which women with disabilities will be businesswomen, successful, independent, under health protection, educated, informed, economically independent, and happy in family and society.
Let us be a happy family and carry out our human essence based on equality and without discrimination throughout all 365 days in the year!
Respectfully yours,
Hiljmnijeta Apuk, Human Rights Defender & Director of NGO Little People of Kosovo
