Croatian parliament speaker receives UN special rapporteur on disability

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko received the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Disability, Shuaib Chalklen, in Zagreb on Monday. 

Leko said that the treatment of persons with disabilities and the need for their inclusion into society was one of the most important social issues in Croatia. He expressed hope that Chalklen's visit would help further raise public awareness of this issue and welcomed suggestions from the UN Special Rapporteur and from the Croatian Ombudswoman for Persons with Disability. Leko noted that there was a large number of disabled people in Croatia as a consequence of the 1991-1995 war.

Chalklen said that Croatia had made great progress in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, noting that associations of disabled persons in Croatia were very strong. He said that one of his tasks was to raise awareness of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Branka Meic, an adviser to the Ombudswoman for Persons with Disabilities, said that the Croatian Parliament was open to suggestions aimed at improving the status of disabled persons in Croatia. (Hina)