Prishtinë, 5 August 2020 – Ombudsperson Institution published Report with Recommendations no. 899/2018, based on the complaint lodged by Mr. Halil Kurmehaj versus the Ministry of Infrastructure (MI), with regard to the lack of provision of equal access to interurban transport of blind persons, in accordance with Law no.04 / L-092 for Blind Persons in Kosovo.

The Report aims to draw attention of MI to the need of provision of equal access to interurban transport of blind persons in Kosovo, in accordance with the Law no. 04 / L-092 for Blind Persons, actually Article 13, par. 1, which stipulates:“Blind persons and their companions when accompanying the blind person shall enjoy benefits in payment, urban traffic is free, and in under urban traffic traveling payment shall be fifty percent (50%) of the value of the ticket”and par.2, which defines that “Private and public operators should set places for blind persons and should put relevant signals. These places are released from fiscal obligation determined by Direction from MT and Ministry of Infrastructure.”

Ombudsperson Institution through this Recommendation Report recommends the MI to amend-supplement Administrative Instruction No.07/2015 for the Licensing of Operators for Road Transport of Passengers by Bus, with a view to determine that interurban transport services for persons with disabilities to be carried out with 50% of the ticket value, pursuant to the Law no.04 / L-092 for Blind Persons; in the licensing criteria of operators for road transport of passenger by bus to determine reservation of two (2) seats for disabled persons, jointly with other accompanying signalizing means; as well as the MI to define the minimum number per month of inspections to be conducted to all operators for road transport of passenger by the MI Inspection Directorate.

Further, OI recommends the MI that until amendment- supplementation of Administrative Instruction No.07/2015 for the Licensing of Operators for Road Transport of Passengers by Bus, Inspection Department to undertake more frequent inspecting controls to operators for road transport of passenger by urban and interurban buses, with the aim to fully enforce legal liabilities defined by the Law No. 04/L-092 for Blind Persons as well as other sub-legal acts.

Read report here: https://bit.ly/2DJg9I7