Long-time activists of organizations of persons with disabilities (PWD) and the LGBTQ+ community expect the new government to improve their rights in practice and point out that so far the three winning coalitions have not done anything promising.
The executive director of the Association of Disabled Youth, Marina Vujačić, told "Vijesti" that the new government should build a true partnership with representative organizations of PWDs, so that they are not included in important processes, as before.
"I think that all issues in relation to identity have fallen into the background, and this is not the first time. Ever since the referendum, we have had a constant return to identity issues, this time, admittedly, the strongest because that issue is reinforced by religious ones. However, we expect that the slogan 'divide and rule', which has had a fair amount of use until now, will be thrown out of use and promote tolerance, acceptance, and support of all differences and that human rights are not discussed, but advocated, guaranteed, and promoted without compromise. and apply, but also that those individuals who have so far violated human rights by statements or actions (even those who belong to the new government) do not get space and places in decision-making positions", said Vujačić.
The President of the Board of Directors of Kvir Montenegro, Danijel Kalezić, points out that he expects the new government to be fully committed to the realization of the human rights of LGBTQ+ persons, and that they have shown this with the signed agreement, which indicates that they will respect all international obligations.
"All members of the future government, by agreement, guarantee open and direct support for the equality of LGBTI persons in society. Our human rights are one of the foundations of the values of modern Europe. The protection of our human rights is part of Montenegro's internationally accepted obligations and European standards, and the agreement of the newly formed majority in the parliament clearly speaks of respect for all international obligations and the achieved standards of modern European societies. "Our community respects the values and attitudes included in the agreement because it is clear from them that the future government will work significantly to improve the position of LGBTI people," said Kalezić.
The representative for the composition of the new government, Zdravko Krivokapić, previously answered the question of how he would prevent the possible influence of the Church on the further construction of a secular society with full respect for all human rights, with special reference to LGBTI rights and abortion rights, that everything that was passed as a legal solution they will respect, but "as much as we expose it, we have exceeded the measure in everything and that measure must be the ratio of everything".
Kalezić pointed out that the job of the future prime minister is to advocate for equality, well-being and full social acceptance of all people in the country he leads:
"Measuring the exposure of sexual orientation is not in his job description, nor is giving any qualification about any other social group or person, in any way. I did not want to influence the process of agreement on the formation of a new government in any way by making statements to the media".
Kalezić also emphasized that, relying on the Constitution and laws that ensure secularism and according to which religious communities are separated from the state, he has no fear that the Church will affect LGBTQ+ rights.
The executive director of the UMHCG reminded that no political party or grouping in the pre-election campaign or in the post-election period had much thought about the rights of PWDs.
"On the one hand, it's better that they didn't promise much, because we've listened to our promises so far, but on the other hand, they must know that we expect much more because now they have the power and decision-making power." However, we hope that they will have the resources to implement decisions because the economic situation, as well as corruption, is such that it will not be easy for any new government. Although the new government has a difficult task in this sense, it does not mean that we will give up on our commitments and principles", said Vujacic.
Kalezić said that no party stood up for LBGTQ+ rights either.
"Unfortunately, I have nothing to comment on because there were no concrete procedures in the negotiations for the formation of a new government in terms of addressing the human rights of the LGBTI community during that process," he said.
Kalezić and Vujacić said that the European Commission's Report on Montenegro for 2020 showed that some progress has been made, but that there is a lot of work ahead.
"The European Commission in the report emphasizes the fact that Montenegro needs to increase the capacity of the judicial system to deal with hate crimes and hate speech and to ensure that such cases are properly reported, investigated, prosecuted and adequately sanctioned. In addition, the report expects that Montenegro increase the capacity of institutions for protection against discrimination. The report particularly emphasizes the fact that our rights are still regularly challenged, especially in the media and on social networks. This is often done by some political and religious representatives," Kalezić said. Infobox (Statement): Better is that they did not promise much because we have listened to their promises until now, but on the other hand they must know that we expect much more because they now have the power and decision-making power. However, we hope that they will have the resources to implement decisions because the economic situation, but also corruption, such that it will not be easy for any new government", said Marina Vujacic.
Sign language to be in official use
Vujačić stressed that the new government must ensure adequate implementation of the Action Plan for the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, recognize and define the status and support of representative organizations of persons with disabilities, and adopt the Law on Sign Language as a language in official use.
"The report of the European Commission repeats all previous observations and further clarifies the inconsistency of the law with international standards, multiple discrimination, inaccessibility and unavailability of public facilities and services, failure to resolve the issue of the Fund for Professional Rehabilitation, problems in the recognition and promotion of sign language and numerous others," she said. is Vujacic.
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