With the politicization of the Montenegrin census, which will be held in less than half a month, one fact has been completely forgotten - for the first time, the census slip will contain questions about disability, which is extremely important for that population, said the Association of Paraplegics of Montenegro.
Acting Executive Director Filipa Rajković told "Vijesta" that these questions are important, because there will finally be estimates of the number of people with disabilities in Montenegro, and that their distribution by region will be known, which will condition the creation of policies and projects from importance for that population.
"Because political parties and other interested parties constantly emphasize that the census is allegedly politicized, the fact that it is a historic moment for people with disabilities is overshadowed," said Rajković.
In Montenegro, there is no single database on the number of persons with disabilities (PWDs), so the only relevant information comes from estimates by the World Health Organization, according to which 10 percent of each country has people with disabilities.
"We do not like the fact that it is insisted that these are not mandatory questions, which can lead citizens to the impression that they do not have to answer them at all. According to the Constitution, no one can force you to answer any other question." , she said.
Data from the census will provide an opportunity to create policies and project budgets that somehow relate to people with disabilities
Rajković therefore appealed to members of the population of persons with disabilities to contribute and answer questions that concern them.
"Data from the census will provide an opportunity to create policies and project budgets that somehow relate to people with disabilities," said Rajković.
Although no country is required to include questions about disability in the census, organizations representing the population have insisted that the question be included in the census.
Although no country is required to include questions about disability in the census, organizations representing the population have insisted that the question be included in the census as well.
Rajković, however, said that even the most perfect questions can only give approximate answers, because there is a certain percentage of people who will not want to answer those questions.
The obtained data, as she said, will give the possibility to conduct surveys that concern only disability.
Competent institutions in Montenegro have so far only handled data on the number of users of certain services related to the population of persons with disabilities.
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