The Delegation paid a study visit to Montenegro organized by the Mission of OSCE in Albania with the aim of introducing with the activities of our state in the field of improvement of position of disabled persons.

Upon the invitation of the Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms, the meeting was attended by: the Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Lubomir Kopaj, Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Ms. Ana Zec, Coordinator in the UNICEF Office, Ms. Blanka Radošević Marović, Assistant to the Minister of Human and Minority Rights, Ms. Vesna Vučurović, Assistant to the Minister of Education, Ms. Tamara Milić, Advisor for education of children with special needs and youth with development disabilities in Ministry of Education and Mr. Milisav Korać, Executive Director of NGO The Association of Parents of Children and Youth with Development Disabilities “Our Initiative”. The Ambassador of Albania in Montenegro, H.E. Mr. Tonin Beci, also attended the meeting.

The Chairman of the Committee acquainted the guests with the responsibilities of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms, stressing the commitment of all Committee members to affirmation and protection of rights of disabled persons, and especially to protection of rights of children with development disability. He pointed out the continuous cooperation the Committee has with all subjects on state and local level, as well as with international and non-governmental organizations dealing with the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. Speaking of the work of the Committee of Human Rights and Freedoms, the Chairman announced that the Committee, as in normative, as in specific practical activities sought to contribute to improving the position of persons with disabilities and respect of their rights. He underlined that Montenegro has created a regulatory and institutional requirements for protection of persons with disabilities, stating that the Montenegrin Constitution guarantees equal rights and duties for all citizens, regardless of any particularity or personal feature and prohibits any direct or indirect discrimination on any grounds, and that the Article 68 of the Constitution of Montenegro stipulates that it shall be guaranteed the special protection of persons with disabilities. Also, the guarantees given in the Constitution elaborate a series of laws that regulate labor relations, employment, pension and disability insurance, education, health and social care, occupational health, family relationships, etc. The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Halil Duković, PhD acquainted the guests with certain key provisions of certain laws governing the status and rights of persons with disabilities.

Furthermore, the Chairman of the Committee informed the guests that the Committee, by organizing public meetings, monitors implementation of legislation adopted by the Parliament, which are related to human rights and freedoms. He pointed out that the Committee, with the consent of all members, joined the campaign "Speaking about Possibilities" and "Teach them something else."

In addition to public meetings, the Committee organized a series of visits to institutions in order to determine the extent of observing the human rights and freedoms of individuals placed in these institutions and on that occasion, the Committee members were convinced that the situation in these institutions improves on daily basis.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Halil Duković, PhD announced that the Committee will in the future, in compliance with its responsibilities, stipulated in the Rule of Procedures of the Parliament, strive to contribute to recognition, promotion, respect and protection of human rights and freedoms of all citizens of Montenegro, with special emphasis on the rights persons with disabilities.

On behalf of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms, guests from Albania and other participants were welcomed by the MP, Mr. Dritan Abazović, MA who expressed hope and expectations for successful continuation of cooperation that was commenced today, and the MP, Ms. Ljerka Dragičević, who stressed that the special value of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms is that decision on all issues discussed in this committee were adopted by consensus, which demonstrates the commitment of all members of this working body to protection of human rights and freedoms of all citizens.

Members of the Delegation from Albania expressed special interest for certain legislation solutions relating to the rights of disabled persons and asked numerous questions about:

- cooperation of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms  with the Ombudsman in Montenegro,

- activity of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms in decision making process of the Law on Ombudsman of Montenegro and provisions of this Law which define the Ombudsman as an institutional mechanism for protection of discrimination and national mechanism for protection of imprisoned persons from torture and other types of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of punishment,

- legal solutions defined in the Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Disabled Persons relating to quota system of employment of disabled persons and special contribution for professional rehabilitation and employment of these persons that are paid to the Fund for Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities,

- Ratification of the UN Convention on rights of disabled persons with the Optional Protocol,

- participation of disabled persons in public life and representation of this population in important political positions,

- application of the sign language in the media and

- cooperation of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms with NGOs dealing with protection of rights of disabled persons.

The answers to posed questions were given by: the Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms, Mr. Halil Duković, PhD, Assistant to the Minister of Education, Ms. Vesna Vučurović and Assistant to the Minister of Human and Minority Rights, Ms. Blanka Radošević Marović, while Mr. Milisav Korać spoke about a quality cooperation of the organization he is representing with the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms.

It was concluded that information and exchanged experiences from this meeting will be useful to all participants, and that information obtained during the study visit to Montenegro, will be very useful to the Delegation from Albania in future work, in order to improve legislation relating to the rights of disabled persons.