OSCE-supported conference on accessibility of public buildings for persons with disabilities organized in Budva

The accessibility of municipal public buildings for persons with disabilities was the focus of a two-day conference organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro in partnership with the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism and the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro on 16 and 17 December in Budva.

The conference aimed to raise awareness about this issue and analyze the results of efforts by the local authorities to remove physical barriers to disabled access in public buildings.

Government ministers, mayors, municipal officials, heads of local public institutions, architects, urban planners, and NGO representatives and civil society activists dealing with the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, took part in the event.

The Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro Janina Hřebíčková asked participants to think about the space we live in and to consider all the stairs, sidewalks, narrow passages we may encounter as barriers. “These all are easily bridged for all people without disabilities, but for those with disabilities, just a few stairs can be unbeatable obstacle.”

Branimir Gvozdenović, the Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism, said: "Accessibility is a precondition for participation in today’s society and economy. Often the failure to remove architectural barriers is linked to a lack of funds. However, it is necessary that we all together make an effort to overcome this difficulty."

Suad Numanović, the Minister of Human and Minority Rights, said that his Ministry had recently improved accessibility to their building and have also placed all signage in Braille for people with visual impairment.

During the conference, legislation governing this area was presented along with best practices, public authorities’ plans for the future activities as well as an overview of the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in everyday life.

One of conclusions was that the quality of the regulatory framework regarding the accessibility of buildings to persons with disabilities needs to be further upgraded and its implementation needs to be intensified.