RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Accessibility, as one of the fundamental preconditions for equal participation of persons with disabilities in all fields of social life is still underdeveloped. Even apart from the existing legal framework, in the Republic of Serbia many public institutions, facilities, surfaces, services and information remain inaccessible to persons with disabilities and difficulties in movement and communication. It occurs rather frequently that exactly the institutions where citizens are to exercise their elementary rights, such as affiliates of the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance, health care institutions, institutions in the field of social protection and education, police stations, administrative authorities or judiciary authorities are inaccessible or hardly accessible.14 The process of de-institutionalization is not terminated so a certain number of persons with disabilities is accommodated at residential institutions, which is contrary to the obligation assumed by the Republic of Serbia by confirming the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Although it was supposed to represent the backbone of the entire process of de-institutionalization, the system of services for the support of persons with disabilities and the elderly is still not adequate and sufficiently developed. Full deprivation of legal capacity is still a legal practice contrary to the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities15. Furthermore, despite recommendations of the Committee, the concept of decision making with support is still not introduced into the legal system of the Republic of Serbia. Despite the announcements of competent bodies, the Family Law, Law on Extrajudicial Proceedings and other laws and regulations which introduced and maintained the institute of deprivation of legal capacity were not amended. NATIONAL MINORITY RIGHTS Taking into consideration the important role assumed by the national councils of national minorities in the exercise of the rights of national minorities, the Protector of Citizens established in 2019 the practice of holding quarterly meetings with representatives of all national councils of national minorities which are constituted in the Republic of Serbia. In 2019 the meetings were held in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Novi Pazar and Subotica. These meetings are an opportunity for the discussion about the position of national minorities, problems national councils face, planned activities of national councils as well as the cooperation with the Protector of Citizens. During 2019, the Protector of Citizens collected also the data on distinguished members of national minorities who contributed to the affirmation and promotion of the rights of national minorities in wider public and this activity shall be continued in 2020. In this reporting period as well, the Protector of Citizens paid special attention to the members of Roma national minority. Apart from the regular practice of visits to Roma villages across See Special Report of the Protector of Citizens „Accessibility for All“, available at: https://www.ombudsman.rs/index.php/izvestaji/posebnii-izvestaji/5893-p-s-b-n-izv-sh-z-sh-i-ni-gr-d-n-prisup-cn-s-z-sv. 15 Concluding observations of the Committee for rights of persons with disabilities on the Initial Report about Serbia, May 2016, available at: https://ljudskaprava.gov.rs/sites/default/files/dokument_file/zakljucna_zapazanja_komiteta_za_prava_osoba _sa_invaliditetom_srb.pdf. 14 - 11 -