The deadline that was set, in order for all buildings in public use to remove architectural barriers and thus adapt to the needs of persons with disabilities, is September 1.
And after five years, the obstacles are in the same place.
The Association of Paraplegics says that after many unfulfilled promises and futile initiatives, they were forced to file lawsuits.
The state plans to reconstruct some buildings, but only if there is money in the budget for it.
"There is not a single facility that satisfies all these elements. Somewhere in reality they did something, however all those elements that were carried out on the ground were not carried out according to this rulebook", said Ivan Nedović from the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism.
That's right, for most, the entrance to the building of the Parliament of Montenegro is just a few steps that are easily skipped.
For Nataša Borović and her colleagues from the Association of Paraplegics, they are a difficult obstacle, but also a symbol of discrimination.
They do not see unmet accessibility standards as a consequence of a lack of money.
"Money shouldn't be a problem because it was earmarked for that. After all, accessibility standards should be respected in the construction of new buildings, which were obviously not respected," said Borović.
Borović explains the lack of will on the part of the authorities with the example of a colleague, with prostheses on his arm and leg, employed in a public institution without an elevator.
"He uses the stairs, he climbs with a lot of effort, there is a handrail on one side, while when he comes down there is no handrail on the other side, where his prosthesis is and he can't and every time he endangers his life. Is a handrail a big investment?" Borovic asks
In the last five years, the Association of Paraplegics has launched a series of initiatives to adapt public facilities to the access and stay of people with disabilities.
They only received promises and that's why they decided to sue all public facilities, including the parliament.
The Assembly told TV Vijesti that access platforms for people with special needs are planned to be installed by the end of the year.
"Other requests related to the stay of these persons in the parliament building are still being considered," the parliament replied.
By the way, the Parliament is on the list of 13 priority buildings in public use planned for adaptation to persons with reduced mobility in the Action Plan for 2014.
The list also includes:
- Center for Social Work Podgorica
- Tax Administration - Regional Unit Podgorica
- Republic Fund for Health Insurance Podgorica
- Basic court in Podgorica
- Faculty of Economics in Podgorica
- Ministry of Finance
- General Hospital in Berane
- Health center "Dr. Niko Labović" in Berane
- Hospital for pulmonary diseases "Dr. Jovan Bulajić" Brezovik Nikšić
- JZU General Hospital in Nikšić
- Health center in Nikšić
- Health center in Pljevlja, laboratory and X-ray building
"The costs of their adjustment are somewhere around 1,6 million euros. If there is money in the budget, then those 13 buildings will be built," Nedović said.
The owners of inaccessible buildings were threatened with fines of 500 to 40.000 euros, but now the procedure for obtaining the necessary permits has been made easier.
The European Commission also points out the lack of adaptation of public areas and facilities in the report for chapter 23. If we are not bound by domestic laws and humanity, I guess the Brussels strike will.
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