Thirteenth Session of the Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Held

During the discussion, it was emphasized that accessibility does not only mean removing architectural barriers but also ensuring mobility as one of the basic prerequisites for independence, dignity, equal opportunities, and full social inclusion of persons with disabilities. There was also talk about the importance of aligning local policies in accessible transportation, sharing good practices among municipalities, and developing guidelines for sustainable models of providing adapted transportation services for persons with disabilities. Anis Šljuka from the Capital highlighted infrastructure problems in other municipalities of Montenegro and expressed hope that other local self-governments will also acquire accessible buses for persons with disabilities to ensure transportation across Montenegro in a unified manner. Council member Irena Rakočević presented legislative solutions of the Government of Montenegro, primarily the Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities and the Law on Spatial Planning and Construction, calling on relevant inspections and local units to define policies that will ensure accessible transportation for persons with disabilities, as accessibility is a right that is a prerequisite for realizing all other human rights for persons with disabilities. Special attention was also given to the possibility of developing national guidelines or programs for the development of accessible public transportation for persons with disabilities, which would define minimum standards for service availability, financing methods, and models of cooperation between the state and local self-governments. It was assessed that improving accessible public transportation is an important step toward greater independence, equal opportunities, and full social inclusion of persons with disabilities, and that joint efforts of government institutions, local self-governments, and organizations of persons with disabilities will contribute to building an inclusive society and improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities in Montenegro.