A group of children and parents walked the central streets of Sarajevo on Thursday to observe the World Down Syndrome Day, to raise awareness and support the rights of children with disabilities to quality and inclusive education.
“All children of the 21st century should get the education that is aimed at and which prepares them for the future”, said the organiser, ‘Life with Down Syndrome’ association which advocates for the rights of those with down syndrome.
“Besides the physically accessible school areas, the children with disabilities need to be provided with adequate transportation, schoolbooks and working materials in line with adjusted curriculum, trained and devoted teachers as well as support and assisting technologies and tools, which will help that their options are made equal with the options that children with no disabilities have,” said the association.
Bosnia and Herzegovina got obliged to respect this right and work on having it achieved. The symbolic walk held on Thursday was just a reminder that it was necessary to work on the more quality, inclusive education because, as the organisers said, “the children are future of the country and they grow up fast.”
While this year’s Down Syndrome Day is marked with a universal message saying ‘Leave no one behind’, the children taking part in the Thursday walk of support were carrying the banners conveying strong messages: ‘Together in the classroom’, ‘I can do it all, just give me a chance’, ‘So that no one is left behind’, ‘My options, my choice’…
The UN General Assembly declared March 21st as World Down Syndrome Day in December 2011, calling all relevant factors to observe it every year in an appropriate manner in order to raise public awareness of Down syndrome.
