The Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports decided, for the first time this year, to join the global movement of raising awareness about the obligation of the society and all its members to ensure respect for the basic human rights of the people with Down syndrome, and to give its contribution to the celebration of 21 March, the World Down Syndrome Day.

On this occasion, a gathering was organised on the Promenade in front of the Ministry building with the members of the Association “Life with Down Syndrome of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina” led by the President of the Association, Ms. Sevdija Kujović.

Today’s gathering began with the welcoming words of the Federal Minister of Culture and Sports, Sanja Vlaisavljević, who was joined by members of the Association: Edna, Adna, Alija, Ahmed, Ema, Kenan, Selma, Harun, Anes, who greeted the large audience and media representatives:

“Welcome to the Promenade of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports! On the first day of spring, is there a better reason to stand with this golden team on the first Promenade manifestation in 2025? Next to me, I am sure, are the best young people you will meet. One of them works in our Ministry, our boss Edna. Many people say that we made Edna happy, but I would not agree. I would say that Edna made happy all of us in the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports, and I am sure that all these young people next to me bring something invaluable wherever they appear: a pure heart, love, integrity, what each of us should be carrying within ourselves, at least a little. I am convinced that there is no employee of the Ministry who has not changed their view of others, of the world, since the day they met our Edna, and has also re-examined their behaviour, customs, and I would say some of their moral postulates. With Edna and with all this youth, our postulates must to be clean, open, untainted… Therefore, I am convinced that all the good people of the world will mark this day in the most beautiful way possible and support this youth. Good for them! Minister Vlaisavljević said.

Today, Sevdija Kujović, President of the “Life with Down syndrome of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, spoke about the Association, which provides support to children and young people with this syndrome, and acts as an extremely important link in the daily challenges of their families.

“Thank you for this wonderful gesture! You have prepared a beautiful surprise for us. It seems to me that this has happened to us for the first time since we have been celebrating the World Down Syndrome Day and thank you for this! Thank you also to our young fighters for whom today is an important day because they have taken on a very important task, to publicly tell to the decision-makers what they want and what they need. Preparations have been ongoing, topics have been chosen and we will see today in the City Hall what they will talk about and what they will pay attention to. Support systems are something that is missing, no country is ideal, there is a lot missing, but what we have can be improved. And I hope that will be the case. Once again, a big thank you to everyone!” said Ms. Kujović in an emotional speech.

Finally, with words of extreme respect for everything that these young people, their parents and representatives of the Association do every day, the gathering ended with the message:

We share love instead of dividing people. Because only love may change the world that is sometimes cruel!