The representatives of the Montenegrin authorities in most situations are not concerned with the problem of the inaccessibility of facilities for people with disabilities, until the issue is pointed out by someone from the outside, said the Association of Youth with Handicaps (UMHCG).
The Executive Director of UMHCG, Marina Vujačić, sent an open letter to the co-chairs and members of the Parliamentary Committee of the European Union and Montenegro for Stabilization and Association (POSP), Ranko Krivokapić and Anneliese Dodds, Member of the European Parliament Marek Plura, and members of the Montenegrin Assembly in to POSP. The tenth PSOP will start today in Budva.
"We are very pleased with the fact that the member of the European Parliament, Marek Plura, a person with a disability, a wheelchair user, will attend the meeting, especially considering that it was logical for the POSP meeting to be held in the premises of the Parliament of Montenegro," stated Vujačić.
On the other hand, she added, they are confused as to why the Parliament of Montenegro was avoided as the venue for the meeting.
"It's not because of the inaccessibility of the highest legislative body to persons with disabilities, because it was not thought about in this way for years, or even months ago, and not just the day before the MEP visit, when Miroslav Ivanovic was once again, for the umpteenth time, brought to the Assembly", said Vujacic.
As she said, this problem was not even thought about in January 2013, when representatives of the OSCE from Albania were being led up and down the steps of the Montenegrin Parliament.
"Did the visit of the OSCE representative from Albania contribute to preventing the same humiliation from happening today? "It is sad that in most situations representatives of the Montenegrin authorities are not concerned about the problem of inaccessibility, until someone from the outside points to it," said Vujačić.
Evidence of this, as she stated, is also the Judgment of the Basic and Higher Courts in the proceedings for protection against discrimination initiated by Miroslava Ivanović, against the Assembly of Montenegro, which reject the order to the Assembly to take the necessary measures so that discrimination would not be repeated.
Vujacic asked whether the Montenegrin MPs at today's meeting will be able to justify such a situation with a lack of funds, technical conditions, or complicated administrative procedures.
"Or they will be aware of the fact that they are speaking to a deputy with a disability, who becomes aware of the problem of inaccessibility in other countries, when he visits Montenegro, and will find that all these reasons for inaction, inaction and the lack of legal protection are completely unjustified and unfounded," she said.
Vujacic asked if the representatives of the Montenegrin parliament ever wondered why there were no wheelchair users or people with other types of disabilities among them. "Or they will still often bypass us when they see us on the steps as we enter the Montenegrin Parliament."
"We expect that Krivokapić will give answers to us, as well as to all other people with disabilities, at the press conference scheduled for Thursday," she said.
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