Montenegro is making slow and unacceptably little progress in the field of the rights of persons with disabilities (PWD), and these persons remain at the top of those who are recognized as the group that is most exposed to discrimination, it was concluded at the presentation of the study "The long road to equality of PWD". which was done by the Center for Civic Education (CGO).
The CGO announced that it was concluded that more systematic and effective approaches are therefore needed in order to improve the quality of life of that group, but also to increase their social inclusion, from which society itself can greatly benefit.
The CGE carried out the study "Long way to equality for PWDs" within the project "For Equality of PWDs" with the support of the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights.
Željka Ćetković, the coordinator of the Active Citizenship Program in the CGO and the main author of the study, recalled the key findings of the NGO's research, which show that PWDs are perceived by the general public as the group that, after the Roma, is most exposed to discrimination and that no progress is being observed in their position for the past five years.
"Persons with disabilities in Montenegro face numerous prejudices, stereotypes, learned and established attitudes towards this group, which is often perceived as a burden on society, ignoring the potential and abilities that PWDs have, so these people remain on the margins of society," stated Ćetković. .
She also pointed out that "Montenegro society is not sufficiently informed about the true position of people with disabilities when it comes to their problems in the areas of employment, education, health care and accessibility.
Ćetković said that the Montenegrin society is not even aware of the abilities that PWDs, despite their disability, have, which can be used appropriately, which would increase the social inclusion of these people.
Associate on the programs and one of the co-authors of the study, Vasilije Radulović, pointed out the importance of education both in terms of the accessibility of that important segment to people with disabilities, and also in terms of the importance of education in facilitating the social inclusion of PWDs.
Radulović reminded that "as many as 77 percent of Montenegrin citizens believe that children with disabilities should not mix with other children, which indicates a high degree of social distance towards people with disabilities".
The aim of the study "Long way to equality of the disabled" is to raise the level of information, promote the improvement of social inclusion of persons with disabilities and contribute to breaking prejudices and stereotypes that further complicate the position of persons with disabilities in Montenegro.
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