The Executive Director of the Association of Youth with Handicaps of Montenegro (UMHCG) Marina Vujačić addressed the General Director Rad Vojvodić regarding the information that was broadcast yesterday in Dnevnik II, in which the television announced that it will fire part-time employees, including sign language interpreter Alen Babačić.
We publish her letter in its entirety:
Dear Mr. Vojvodić,
I am writing to you on the occasion of the information broadcast in Dnevnik II on April 23 of the current year, in which you informed the public, among other things, about the "dismissal of part-time associates", among whom is sign interpreter Alen Babačić, due to the fact that you did not receive a "statement about to the problems that arose in the interpretation and application of the Law on the Financing of Political Parties" by the State Election Commission and where you stated that you are forced to strictly apply that act and that on this occasion the management and editorial staff cannot accept responsibility for the consequences that will arise due to " strict application of the law".
It was also pointed out that hearing-impaired viewers will be deprived of sign language news for the next two months, as the only presenter is hired part-time.
Namely, as you know, the Law on Media in Article 3 prescribes the obligation of the state to provide part of the financial resources for realizing the rights of citizens to information guaranteed by the Constitution and the law, without discrimination, based on program content that is significant for:
- development of science and education;
- cultural development;
- informing persons with impaired hearing and vision.
Also, Article 9 of the Law on Radio Broadcasting Services stipulates the obligation of RTCG to, without any form of discrimination or social diversity, produce and broadcast program content that: is intended for all segments of society, especially taking into account children and youth, members of minority nations and others minority national communities, persons with disabilities, socially vulnerable and other specific groups, and Article 17 also defines the financing of program contents that are important for informing persons with hearing and sight impairments.
Because of the target group I represent, I have to say that I am disappointed with the information we heard, because RTCG is obliged to hire a sign language interpreter permanently, not occasionally or part-time, and not only during the daily broadcast at 15 p.m., which is exclusively intended for people with hearing impairments. additionally discriminated against, because the diary is not shown, as was previously the case in the time slot of 15:30 p.m., when it is broadcast for the sake of the entire public
Because of the target group I represent, I have to say that I am disappointed with the information we heard, because RTCG is obliged to hire a sign language interpreter permanently, not occasionally or part-time, and not only during the daily broadcast at 15 p.m., which is exclusively intended for people with hearing impairments. additionally discriminated against, because the diary is not shown, as was previously the case in the time slot of 15:30 p.m., when it is broadcast for the sake of the entire public.
It is clear based on past practice that the hearing impaired are also discriminated against by the Public Service, and that it must find ways to suppress discrimination, and not to further encourage and deepen it. I emphasize this especially, because even if there are restrictions due to the Law on Financing of Political Parties, this should not be a reason for terminating part-time engagement, but rather a contribution to permanent engagement based on an employment contract, because you have also provided for that position through systematization.
We believe that there are no legal obstacles to hiring Mr. Babačić in that position, considering that we are familiar with his experience and that we ourselves have hired him and collaborated with him several times. In this sense, we appeal to you to find a way to comply with the general, and for your field of activity, key laws, which is certainly not the case with the Law on the Financing of Political Parties.
I also inform you that in accordance with the Law on Amendments to the Law on the Election of Councilors and Members of Parliament, you are obliged to provide a sign language translation of the confrontation between election candidates: "Television of Montenegro, when organizing and broadcasting programs from paragraph 1 of this article, is obliged to provide sign language translation" which is an additional legal norm, the application of which requires the employment of sign interpreters.
Due to the additional anxiety, disappointment and tension that the information in your diary has caused among people with disabilities, please correct the omissions as soon as possible and inform the public about it, and give people with hearing loss the right to access information.
In the end, I would like to point out that we are at your disposal in order to solve the above-mentioned situation.
Bonus video:
