The Serbian municipality of Vračar has taken significant steps to strengthen inclusion for people with disabilities. Since launching a municipal partnership with the City of Borås in 2021, aimed at increasing influence and participation for people with disabilities, the cooperation has led to both stronger organisational structures and concrete improvements in practice.
A key outcome of the partnership is the establishment of a Disability Council in Vračar, chaired by the municipality’s deputy president. The council brings together representatives from national authorities, the health and education sectors, as well as several disability and civil society organisations.
Within the council, an accessibility team has also been formed. Its task is to cooperate with city authorities to review building projects, monitor the implementation of accessibility standards and propose improvements.
Accessibility Guidelines
Another important and concrete result is the development of four guidelines on accessibility standards. They cover communication, public spaces, administrative services and events, and have been further refined through joint workshops during partnership visits.
“They are not just theory – each part can be applied in everyday work. They are based on existing regulations, the experiences of people with disabilities and their recommendations, as well as advice from experts,” says Irena Lakobrija Delić, project manager in Vračar.
“Above all, the guidelines are intended to help staff identify barriers and understand how to properly plan and deliver services,” says Irena.
The guidelines now form the basis for sharing knowledge and experience with other municipalities, with the aim of involving all 17 municipalities in Belgrade. So far, the work has proven highly successful.
“When we started sharing our guidelines, we knew we had a strong foundation, but we did not fully realise how ready people were for this change. Today we can proudly say that there is no turning back from the work we have started,” says Irena Lakobrija Delić.
