Constitutive meeting of the Government Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Today, the constitutive meeting of the Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was held, following the Government's decision to establish this council on 4 April 2024 and the decision to appoint its members on 13 June 2024. Thus, the 44th Government, after a two-year delay, created the conditions for the Council to begin its work.

The Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was initially formed as a temporary working body two years ago. However, due to organizational and structural changes, the previous government did not issue the decision on the Council's appointment, rendering it non-functional.

The current Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is chaired by Srđan Pavićević, Deputy Prime Minister for Labour, Education, Health, and Social Affairs. Fatmir Gjeka, Minister of Human and Minority Rights, and Svetlana Cicvarić, representative of the NGO Ekvivalent, have been appointed as Vice Presidents of the Council. Other members include the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, the Minister of Health, the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Public Administration, the Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation, the Minister of Economic Development, the Minister of Culture and Media, the Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism, and State Property, the Secretary of the Secretariat for Legislation, the Director General of the Directorate for the Protection and Equality of Persons with Disabilities in the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, the Director of the Employment Agency of Montenegro, the President of the Paralympic Committee of Montenegro, and five representatives from NGOs representing persons with disabilities who actively participate in policy creation and implementation in this area.

The necessity of forming the Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities stems from the need to enhance the protection and promotion of human rights for persons with disabilities through synchronized and responsible systemic work. This need is driven by Montenegro's international obligations, including the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the requirement to align national legislation with international standards. Consequently, it is essential to develop policies, laws, and programmes that remove barriers and guarantee the enjoyment of civil, cultural, economic, political, and social rights for persons with disabilities.

Additionally, the 2023 Progress Report on Montenegro's EU accession, particularly concerning Chapters 19 and 23, specifically encourages the formation of the Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is also a provisional benchmark in Negotiation Chapter 23 - Judiciary and Fundamental Rights.

Council's President Srđan Pavićević said that the attitude of a society towards the rights and needs of persons with disabilities serves as its identity card, reflecting the level of respect for human rights, civic culture, and solidarity. He emphasised that persons with disabilities are not seeking pity or privileges, but rather rights and opportunities to be full members of society. Pavićević expressed confidence in the personnel structure of the newly formed Council, stating that it reassures him that the Council's work will be productive and will go beyond the previous declarative and strategic approaches that have not yet yielded the expected results. He anticipates significant progress in guaranteeing, promoting, and implementing European standards in the legal protection and social affirmation of persons with disabilities.