In the field of protection of the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs), it is important that there are quality strategic documents, but the most important thing is that the PWDs themselves are involved in the process and that the whole society supports policies that will contribute to the respect of their rights and protection from discrimination.
This was announced at the final conference of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM) within the project "Together for the inclusion of persons with disabilities", which was financially supported by the Ministry of Justice, Human and Minority Rights.
As reported by the PR Center, the project coordinator of CEDEM, Matija Miljanić, said that the project aimed to contribute to greater respect for the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as to raise the awareness of the professional and lay public about the importance of protecting persons with disabilities from discrimination.
"Citizens estimate that in the area of employment, discrimination against the oldest citizens and persons with disabilities is most pronounced. As for the degree of discrimination in the field of education, it is most pronounced according to age and disability. Additionally, we noticed that, when it comes to the treatment of individuals by public services, the degree of discrimination against LSI is very high," said Miljanić.
"Through five educational posters, we managed to show and bring closer what the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities actually is. Another important activity was the three-day legal academy on the European Convention on Human Rights and Freedoms. Also, a three-day seminar "All for the prohibition of LSI discrimination" was held, which brought together the media, non-governmental organizations, the Directorate for Inspection Affairs, representatives of ministries and centers for social work, said Miljanić.
During the three-day seminar, it was concluded, as he said, that it is necessary for the inspection authorities to initiate more procedures ex officio.
"In the future, we must ensure the accessibility of buildings and surfaces in public use. This was recognized as the biggest problem during the three-day activity. The findings and opinions of social-medical commissions must be adequately explained. Accessibility is not just physical. It must exist on websites, in the media and the like," said Miljanić.
As he added, a two-day training "Development of anti-discrimination policies at the local level" was held, where the participants were representatives of municipalities, the secretariat for social and legal-normative activities.
Acting Assistant to the General Secretary of the Government of Montenegro, Almedina Vukić Martinović, said that the main conclusion of the two-day training was that it is necessary to strengthen the capacities of local self-governments, and she added that it is necessary to work additionally on the process of creating local action plans.
"It is important that in the field of LSI rights protection we have special strategies and a clear direction and priorities in that part, but we must understand that this is a horizontal issue and that in addition to special strategic documents, we must take into account that persons with disabilities must be included in the entire process . A society that enables their full inclusion is one that enables them to directly exercise their rights. In addition to treating this issue separately, it is really important that we from the institutions, as well as the whole society, support such policies", Vukić Martinović believes.
Acting Director General of the Directorate for the Protection and Equality of Persons with Disabilities, Aleksandra Popović, pointed out that the Government is committed to respecting the human rights of persons with disabilities and that Montenegro has made significant efforts to harmonize its legal system with international standards in areas related to the protection of human rights. the rights of persons with disabilities, "but there are still many obligations ahead of us".
"A new Strategy for the protection of persons with disabilities from discrimination and the promotion of equality for the period from 2022 to 2027 is being prepared, in which special emphasis will be placed on the protection of women and girls with disabilities against multiple discrimination. The formation of a new Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is also in the process," said Popović.
In the coming period, as she added, work will be done even more intensively to improve cooperation between non-governmental organizations and the state administration.
"Special emphasis will be placed on further alignment with relevant international standards, which contribute to reducing discrimination against persons with disabilities. All of the above will be implemented through the newly formed Directorate for the Protection and Equality of Persons with Disabilities," said Popović.
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