The unavailability of public facilities for people with disabilities is a problem pointed out by the European Commission (EC) in the Progress Report of Montenegro for last year.
Although the plan was adopted for this year, the chances of it being fulfilled by the end of 2014 are minimal, so priority facilities will still remain inaccessible to that population.
This was briefly pointed out by experts from the European Commission, who state that, although the Government allocated 400.000 euros for the construction of ramps and improving accessibility, no facility has been adapted. The Report states that progress has been made, because the regulations were adopted and the Council for the Protection of Persons with Disabilities was formed.
The Executive Director of the Association of Disabled Youth, Marina Vujačić, said that she is encouraged that the EC recognizes this problem. She pointed out that the Government adopted the Action Plan on October 31 last year, but that the Directorate of Public Works announced tenders for the preparation of technical documentation only at the end of April. Contracts were signed with the selected project partners in August, and they have the task of completing the conceptual solutions in two months.
"If the entire process is not completed by the end of the year, the funds intended for adapting the facilities can be returned to the budget or redirected to other purposes. Even when the Action Plan was adopted, the UMHCG warned that the implementation would not be completed in 2014 Vujacic said.
She said that the consequences of this are inaccessible facilities, and no one has been sanctioned, while people with disabilities continue to experience discrimination.
the action plan foresees that the buildings of the Parliament of Montenegro, the Ministry of Finance, the Center for Social Work, the Tax Administration, the Health Insurance Fund, the Basic Court and the Faculty of Economics will be adapted in Podgorica. In Nikšić, work is planned on the Special Hospital in Brezovik, the Health Center and the hospital, while adjustments are also planned in the Beran Health Center and Hospital, as well as in the Health Center in Pljevlja.
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