The protection and social affirmation of persons with disabilities is a legal and ethical imperative of every society, it was announced at the constitutive meeting of the Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Government said that the constitutive meeting of the Council was held today, after two years of delay, which created the conditions for the start of the Council's work.
"The Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as a temporary working body, was formed two years ago, but the decision on the appointment of the Council, due to organizational and structural changes, was not adopted by the previous government, and therefore the Council could not even be functional," says the announcement.
The Government appointed the Deputy Prime Minister for Labour, Education, Health and Social Affairs, Srđan Pavićević, as the President of the current Council.
As it was added, the Minister of Human and Minority Rights Fatmir Đeka and the representative of the non-governmental organization "Equivalent", Svetlana Cicvarić, were appointed as vice-presidents of the Council.
It is stated that the necessity of forming the Council stems from the need to advance the protection and promotion of the human rights of persons with disabilities through synchronized and responsible systemic work.
Montenegro has international obligations, which, as it is added, it assumed through the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and obligations to harmonize national legislation with international standards.
"From which arises the necessity of developing policies, laws and programs that remove barriers and guarantee the enjoyment of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights to persons with disabilities," the announcement states.
It is added that in the Report on Montenegro's progress on the path to joining the European Union for last year, which concerns Chapter 19 and Chapter 23, the formation of the Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is especially encouraged, which is also a temporary measure in the negotiation chapter 23 - judiciary and fundamental rights.
According to Pavićević, the attitude of a society towards the rights and needs of people with disabilities is its identity card, proof of the level of respect for human rights, the level of civic culture and solidarity.
"Persons with disabilities are not looking for sympathy or privileges, but rights and opportunities to be full members of society," Pavićević said.
He said that the personnel structure of the newly formed Council assures him that its work will be productive.
"And that it will surpass the declarative and strategic approach that so far has not produced the expected results and made significant progress in terms of guarantees, promotion and implementation of European standards in the field of legal protection and social affirmation of persons with disabilities," added Pavićević.
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