ZAGREB, 12 May (Hina) - Croatia marked the first National Day of Persons with Physical Disabilities on Tuesday, aimed at raising public awareness about the need for better care, protection from discrimination, and stronger social inclusion and integration of people with disabilities.

The Croatian Parliament decided in January to designate 12 May as the National Day of Persons with Physical Disabilities. The initiative was launched by the Croatian Union of Associations of Persons with Physical Disabilities, which brings together 50 local associations across 47 cities and towns.

The date was chosen to coincide with the feast day of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić, a saint who himself lived with severe physical limitations.

According to the Croatian Institute of Public Health, more than 675,000 people with disabilities lived in Croatia in September last year, representing 17.5% of the population. Over 200,000 of them live with severe disabilities requiring substantial support, according to the 2025 report of the Ombudsman for Persons with Disabilities.