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The Ombudsperson published the report on the assessment of the accessibility of sidewalks and public spaces

28/09/2023

Prishtina, 26 September 2023 – The Ombudsperson published Ex-officio Report 648/2021 regarding the assessment of the accessibility of sidewalks and public spaces with an impact on the free movement of citizens and respect for the right to a safe and healthy living environment.

The results of field research highlight a number of problems that produce physical barriers, and that create restrictions on free and independent access to public spaces for people with disabilities, the elderly, parents with young children, or anyone else who at certain times may have difficulty accessing public areas.

As such, the following obstacles are identified: the lack of tactical elements; the presence of physical obstacles in the space of sidewalks, which block, usurp, occupy, and narrow public spaces; lack of access ramps; damage to the materialization of sidewalks; often substandard public works that result in pavement surfaces that collapse, crack or shift, creating potholes and ditches that hinder and sometimes endanger pedestrians; the lack of parking spaces dedicated to persons with disabilities, or their construction contrary to the standards and technical norms determined by the legislation in force.

After the research carried out in the field and based on the findings, the Ombudsperson concludes that public spaces for pedestrians and pedestrian crossings are not adequately accessible for all citizens, especially for Persons with Disabilities. In addition, this research highlights the lack of implementation of standards and control according to the technical norms determined by the Administrative Instruction 33/2007 for Construction Buildings Technical Terms of Accessibility to Disabled Persons, and the applicable legislation on spatial planning.

The report was carried out after research in the cities of Prishtina, Prizren and Ferizaj, and in addition to the legal analysis of the applicable legislation on spatial planning and construction, it was also carried out by verifying the situation on the ground.

The Ombudsperson, based on the findings from the field and after the analysis of the legislation in force, addressed recommendations to the competent authorities.

Full report in English available soon at www.oik-rks.org