27. December 2011.

UN supports libraries for blind and visually impaired

Today in Sarajevo in the parliament building ceremonial handover of equipment for blind and visually impaired persons was delivered to directors of library for blind and disabled persons in BiH, RS and for Association of blind and disabled persons of Herzeg Bosna. Within the component ‘Improved access to culture’ of the ‘Culture for Development’ programme implementation a substantial number of activities related to social inclusion was initiated. Access to cultural institutions was improved at the beginning of this year for people with physical disabilities after which activities for enabling improved access to culture for blind and visually impaired persons through procurement of specialised equipment in the amount of 53.651,84 KM.

Minister of Civil Affairs, Mr. Sredoje Nović addressed the media by reminding everyone of the importance of access to culture for persons with special needs. Mr. Yuri Afanasiev, Resident Coordinator of United Nations in BiH noted that today, through procurement of the specialised equipment, we contribute to practical implementation the Convention for Human Rights for Persons with disabilities which BiH ratified last year. All three representatives of the beneficiaries Mr. Sakib Pleh, executive director of the library for blind and visually impaired persons in BiH, Mr. Brano Suzić, director of the library for blind and visually impaired persons of RS, and Ivan Perić, executive director of the Association for blind and visually impaired persons of Herceg-Bosna expressed gratitude for the equipment and pointed out the appreciation for the attention they are receiving from the Ministry of Civil Affairs for this specific category of persons with special needs – The equipment is divided between the one for individual needs for 70 beneficiaries and sophisticated studio equipment for production of new audio material to be usedby all members of the library for blind and visually impaired persons in BiH and the world. The equipment consists of white sticks, talking watches, weights and sophisticated Daisy reading devises. The Programme Culture for Development is a three-year programme that is being implemented in partnership of three UN Agencies: UNDP, UNICEF and UNESCO, in cooperation with the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH, Ministry of Culture and Sports of FBiH, Ministry of Education and Culture of RS, as well as other institutions working in the area of education and culture.