Empowered conference: advancing inclusion across the Western Balkans
As part of the three-year regional project EMPOWERED – Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, Regional Cooperation, and Development in the Western Balkans, the first regional conference titled “Empowered – Challenges and Opportunities for Labour and Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Western Balkans” was held in Skopje. The event brought together over 100 participants, including representatives of ministries, international organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), local governments, civil society, and experts from all six Western Balkan countries. The conference was opened by Gjoko Velkovski, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of North Macedonia, with welcoming remarks from representatives of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V. (ASB), and ASB South East Europe (SEE). Local Commitment Across the Region Within the Empowered project, activities are implemented in 15 municipalities across the Western Balkans, committed to advancing the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities: Key Themes and Conference Outcomes Participants engaged in three thematic panels: These sessions addressed challenges and opportunities related to employment, education, service accessibility, and cross-sectoral cooperation, while highlighting the importance of leveraging existing funding, developing local action plans, and strengthening partnerships among public, civil, and private actors. One of the most significant outcomes of the conference was the political and institutional consensus reached on the establishment of a Regional Working Group on Disability Inclusion, as well as an agreement to jointly develop a Regional Declaration on the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. Participants also shared best practices, innovative ideas, and project proposals aimed at strengthening local-level inclusion across the region. Unified Message: Inclusion Is a Right, Not a Privilege Conference conclusions were delivered by Prof. Dr. Violeta Marković of the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade and Gordan Velev, Director of ASB Serbia, who emphasized that the inclusion of persons with disabilities must be grounded in human rights, and that full and equal participation of all citizens is essential for sustainable development and social cohesion in the region. About the EMPOWERED Project The EMPOWERED – Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, Regional Cooperation, and Development in the Western Balkans project spans 44 months (2024–2027) and focuses on: The project is led by Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V. (ASB) and is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with a total value of 3.33 million euros. It is implemented in partnership with regional organizations: The project seeks to establish a sustainable regional network of solidarity and knowledge, with the goal of creating societies where equality, inclusion, and full participation of persons with disabilities are core values.
International day of independent living for persons with disabilities
International Day of Independent Living for Persons with Disabilities – United for Dignified and Autonomous Life in the Community Today, May 5th, we mark the International Day of Independent Living for Persons with Disabilities – a day dedicated to the ongoing fight for the right of every individual to live with dignity, independence, and equality, regardless of physical, sensory, or intellectual barriers. For the EMPOWERED project, this day is a strong reminder of a core value we advocate for every day across the Western Balkans: independent living is not a privilege – it is a fundamental human right. Despite gradual progress, persons with disabilities in our region still face significant challenges in realizing this right. According to a regional report by AGE Platform Europe and SeConS, less than 1.5%* of persons with disabilities in Western Balkan countries have access to formal services that enable independent living – such as personal assistance, home-based support, or accessible housing. These services are often limited to temporary or donor-funded projects, inconsistently financed, and largely unavailable in smaller towns and rural areas. The EMPOWERED project addresses these gaps through: ✅ Regional cooperation among organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), decision-makers, and local authorities;✅ Political dialogue aimed at improving legislation and public policies that safeguard the right to independent living;✅ Development of Local Action Plans for Inclusion in six Western Balkan countries, created with the direct participation of persons with disabilities;✅ Establishment and strengthening of community-based support services, enabling persons with disabilities to live independently, with choice and control over their own lives. These efforts all aim toward one goal: to ensure sustainable, systemic support for persons with disabilities in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the principles of non-discrimination, equality, and full participation. Independent living means having the right to choose where, with whom, and how to live.On this day – and every other day – we affirm that inclusion is not optional. It is a duty. *Source: Long-Term Care of Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities in the Western Balkans – AGE Platform Europe & SeConS, 2023.