In relation to the obligation from the Conclusion of the Committee from the 53rd meeting, consultations were conducted between the representatives of the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, representatives of organizations dealing with the protection of rights of persons with disabilities and members of the Working group for drafting of the Law, and the members of the Committee were informed about their common positions.
Minister for Human and Minority Rights, Mr Suad Numanović, pointed out that, for the sake of the improvement of the text of the Proposal for the Law, a large number of issues were agreed upon, the introduction of new terminology, improvement of existing provisions and clarification of certain concepts. He pointed out that certain proposals of NGO representatives could not be accepted at this moment, due to non-compliance with existing standards in other areas. He expressed his willingness to continue the cooperation.
Representatives of organizations dealing with protection of rights of persons with disabilities expressed satisfaction with cooperation with the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, stressing that in previous day, at three meetings, improving or adding new provisions was harmonized to a certain extent, which improved the quality of the Proposal for the Law. They also expressed satisfaction with the recognition of importance, but also the willingness for the improvement of the text of the Proposal for the Law. They concluded that as soon as possible, with the obligatory constant and close cooperation with representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities, it was necessary to conduct detailed analysis of regulations in all areas where the Proposal for the Law guaranteed protection and prohibition from discrimination on the grounds of disability, and then accede to amendments to these regulations.
Member of the Committee and at the same time the member of the Working Group for drafting of the Law, Ms Snežana Jonica, pointed to the need of amending certain regulations, because some of the norms of this Proposal for the Law referred to laws these were not part of. She stated that harmonization of legislation with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities would begin with this Proposal for the Law. The Committee unanimously decided to submit nine amendments to the Proposal for the Law, agreed by the representative of the proposer.
Following the discussion, the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms unanimously (with seven votes "for") endorsed the Proposal for the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities and proposed its adoption to the Parliament.
In addition, the Committee unanimously adopted the Conclusions according to which the Government of Montenegro committed itself to conducting the analysis of all the regulations that define the rights of persons with disabilities in the areas defined by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which were also covered with this law, and to preparing proposals for amendments to laws in the area of transport, health and social and child protection as soon as possible, and that in all phases of drafting of these regulations representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities and the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms should be included.