M. S. from Zemun, who suffers from paraplegia and who was deprived of the right to free movement, has been advocating since 2007 for pavements in his street to be accessible to persons with disabilities. He addressed the competent city authorities, which ignored his problem for four years. In 2011, he decided to file a complaint to the Commissioner for Protection of Equality against the Belgrade City Secretariat for Traffic. The Commissioner established discrimination and recommended that city authorities adjust the street in which M. S. lives to the needs of persons with disabilities. Even though the city authorities acted according to the recommendation, construction works were badly performed and M. S. was still facing impediments. The competent bodies found that their job was completed, though the goal of the recommendation was not achieved.   

Afterwards, M. S. addressed Praxis for assistance and the motion for the peaceful settlement of dispute was filed to the Public Attorney’s Office in Belgrade, with the proposal to adjust the pavement in his street to the needs of the persons with disabilities and to set appropriate ramps.  The Public Attorney’s Office acted upon the stated requests, and after seven years M. S. was finally able  to move along his street.

Unfortunately, this is not a sole case, because M. S, as well as other persons with disabilities, face great difficulties on a daily basis, when using public transportation and in access to public facilities, which are inaccessible.