Call for Action!
Conference on the ‘Right to Inclusive Education’
- Bosanski/Hrvatski/Srpski
- English
Highlights
Bosnia and Herzegovina has on 29th of July 2009 signed the United Nations Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities (Convention), and ratified it on 12th of March 2010, including the Optional Protocol, as well.
In September of 2016, Convention Committee adopted and published the General Comment on the Article 24 of the Convention. General Comment provides guidelines for 166 countries that had ratified the Convention on the fulfillment of the obligations under the Article 24 according to which “State Parties shall ensure an inclusive educational system at all levels and lifelong learning.” Education of persons with disabilities is often of poor quality, sets low expectations and limits learner’s opportunities. By contrast, a truly inclusive learning environment values the contribution and potential of persons with disabilities, and equips them with essential life, language and social skills.
Currently there is no common definition of disability in Bosnia and Herzegovina or understanding of disability according to the social model. In definition of disability different terms are used in different fields (social welfare, healthcare, pension fund, employment). There is no standardized methodology for assessing disability or common understanding of the methodology based on the assessment of the functionality of children. Language used to describe children with developmental disabilities is often medical in nature and sometimes offensive and unproductive. Progress in inclusive education in Bosnia and Herzegovina is measured by “access” to school and preschool facilities, and not by “participation” in education.
The right to inclusive education is to transform the culture, policies and practices in all formal and informal educational environments in order to ensure equal opportunities to all children. Inclusive education is not only important for persons with disabilities but also for the society in which they live, since it helps in fighting discrimination and promotes diversity and participation.
Comment 4 of the article 24 of the convention is a good basis for addressing the key questions in approaching inclusion in educational reform processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore, UNICEF has, in the collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized the conference “The Right to Inclusive Education” on 19th and 20th of June 2017.