At the third session of the Zenica City Council, the Draft Budget of the City of Zenica for 2025 was adopted. Within this budget, 30,000 KM was allocated for financing representative organizations of people with disabilities and civilian victims of war. This success deservedly comes after months of efforts by representatives of these organizations, who managed to include their initiative in the priorities of the city administration.

"The goal was to achieve that organizations of people with disabilities with representative status become recognized in the budget. I think this is the most important thing for people with disabilities that has happened in the last few years in Zenica," said Harun Aliefendić from the Association of Paraplegics and Polio Patients in Zenica.

We remind you that the initiative was supported by the Mayor of Zenica and the relevant services, which confirmed their readiness for its implementation in previous months through official letters. With the planned announcement of a special public call for co-financing these organizations' projects, permanent support for their work will be ensured. "This is a key step towards ensuring the sustainability of organizations of persons with disabilities, which are often the bearers of support and the voice of their members," added Aliefendić.

Namely, according to the Law on Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and Civilian Victims of War of the Federation of BiH, local communities are obliged to finance the work of representative organizations. This is the first time that a city in the Federation of BiH will introduce systemic support for the work of these organizations, ensuring their sustainability and enabling more efficient implementation of programs to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities

After the budget is adopted, a Public Call with precisely defined criteria will be issued, to which organizations that have already completed the process of acquiring the DPO status will be able to apply. Also, a call for acquiring representativeness will soon be opened, which will complete all necessary administrative items by the start of the Public Call.

Including this important item in the Budget positions Zenica as a leader in the development of an inclusive society. This model can serve as an inspiration and guide for other local communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to support people with disabilities.

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