DISABLED PERSONS ACCOUNT FOR 10% OF CROATIA'S POPULATION

ZAGREB, Dec 3 (Hina) - There is an estimated 500,000 disabled persons in Croatia, which accounts for 10 percent of the country's population, and according to the World Health Organisation, that number could increase by 20 percent by 2020. The International Day of Disabled Persons is marked every year on December 3 with the aim of making citizens aware of the fact that there are people with a disability or special needs living in their neighbourhood. Disabled persons in Croatia are organised in numerous organisations: for physically disabled persons, deaf and blind persons, people with mental retardation, paraplegics, people suffering from cerebral palsy, mine victims, disabled war veterans etc. This year, too, they will warn the public and competent institutions about their problems. Croatia's alliance of disabled persons' associations believes disabled people should be exempt from paying taxes and customs duties when buying vehicles and electronic devices which aid them in their everyday life. The alliance also points to the need to improve laws and adjust them to U.N. regulations, and implement a national programme for the improvement of the quality of life of disabled persons. Croatia currently has only three centres for the rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons, which employ about 650 disabled persons. Another such centre should be built in Zagreb by the end of 2003 and it should employ 500 disabled persons. (hina) rml