Individuals with disabilities (PWDs) in Montenegro are once again marking May 5, the European Day of Independent Living, while facing challenging conditions that hinder their independence, as reported by the Association of Young People with Disabilities of Montenegro (UMHCG).

The NGO highlighted that despite Montenegro’s commitment to deinstitutionalization and promoting community living for people with disabilities, the reality starkly contrasts this goal.

“There remains a high level of institutionalization for individuals with disabilities, whether through placement in residential facilities or through isolation in their homes, leading to their exclusion from community life,” stated UMHCG.

Furthermore, they noted that many individuals with disabilities of all ages are living in restrictive environments, compounded by a lack of adequate community services designed to facilitate independent living.

“Additionally, those in closed institutions receive little to no support from state and local authorities to transition into community living,” the UMHCG reported.

In 2017, Montenegro received critical recommendations from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities regarding independent living, particularly in relation to Article 19 – Independent Living and Community Inclusion, and Article 28 – Social Protection and Adequate Standard of Living.

However, over seven and a half years, the state has only partially met the recommendations, having just adopted its first deinstitutionalization strategy late last year.

The UMHCG pointed out that the long-awaited Law on Unified Disability Expertise, which has been pending for the past three years, was expected to be adopted by the Government in the first quarter of this year per scheduled timelines.

“The introduction of this law is crucial for shifting from a medical model of disability to a human rights-based framework that assesses necessary support for independent living,” emphasized UMHCG.

Despite the 2017 concluding observations from the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities urging the government to consider the economic autonomy of women with disabilities, there has been little to no action taken.

“Conversely, through our initiatives with women with disabilities, we have noted an alarming rise in reports of various forms of violence, including economic abuse, coupled with inadequate protective measures,” the UMHCG highlighted.

This situation severely limits the independence of women with disabilities, trapping them in an environment of fear and violence.

“Those who are mothers often fear losing their children, a concern exacerbated by interventions from social work centers that should be safeguarding their rights and dignity,” the statement elaborated.

The UMHCG reiterated that Montenegro has not committed to halting the construction of new institutions or other segregated environments.

“Instead, there is an urgent need to develop a diverse range of community-based services at the local level that respect the autonomy, choices, dignity, and privacy of individuals with disabilities, incorporating peer support and alternatives to the traditional medical model of mental health,” the statement added.

Although institutional care should be temporary, the UMHCG contended that Montenegro continues to allocate resources towards the maintenance and renovation of existing institutions, which remain as permanent solutions for many, in violation of international standards.

They pointed out ongoing discussions for over a decade about relocating individuals from Komanski Most and addressing the overcrowded conditions in the Special Hospital for Psychiatry Dobrota, filled with so-called social patients.

Despite serious allegations of rights violations and inhumane treatment in various facilities, no independent investigations have occurred, leaving monitoring efforts by independent institutions largely ineffective.

Moreover, the state has not ensured that individuals with disabilities and their representative organizations are involved in all phases of developing strategies and programs for independent living.

“It often appears that foreign expert advice is prioritized over the insights and experiences of local disabled individuals, whose lives are directly impacted by these decisions,” the UMHCG noted.

The NGO also mentioned that Montenegro does not regularly assess the living costs of individuals with disabilities.

“As a result, disability benefits remain unadjusted, and the existing benefits are still disproportionately inadequate for many categories of disabled individuals,” the statement continued.

While certain material benefits, such as care allowances and personal disability assistance, have increased in recent times, they have not kept pace with the actual living costs associated with disability, which arise from personal impairments compounded by environmental barriers.

Compounding these issues, the government has introduced fees for particular social and child protection services for people with disabilities, treating them unevenly compared to other service recipients.

“Additionally, the state fails to provide all services mandated by the Law on Social and Child Protection,” stated the UMHCG.

They are now urging the Minister of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography, Damir Gutić, to ensure transparency in amending or drafting new legislation.

“We seek a participatory approach at all stages, including prior to public discussions, to realize the commitments made during last year’s ‘Day of Persons with Disabilities,'” the statement concluded.

Without such action, they remarked, they can only recall the statements and images from the meeting held on December 3rd.

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