The analysis “Inclusive Design: Removing Barriers, Creating Opportunities” provides a comprehensive overview of the state of accessibility of public facilities in Montenegro, with a particular focus on buildings used by ministries and local governments. The publication is the result of detailed research and mapping of publicly used facilities, documenting for the first time in a systematic way the level of their physical accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Through field visits and the analysis of dozens of facilities across Montenegro, the research showed that most administrative buildings do not meet basic accessibility standards, including access ramps, elevators, toilets adapted for persons with disabilities, as well as visual and auditory signage. The lack of these elements directly affects daily mobility, access to public services, and the participation of persons with disabilities in public and political life.
The analysis also examines the alignment of domestic legislation with international standards, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and relevant EU directives. Although formal steps toward inclusion are recognized in strategic documents, implementation in practice remains limited.
A special segment of the publication is dedicated to examples of good practice from European cities that have successfully applied the principles of universal design. Based on this, the analysis offers concrete recommendations for improving institutional capacities, strengthening monitoring mechanisms, and ensuring the mandatory application of accessibility standards in the design, construction, and reconstruction of public facilities.
In addition to infrastructural barriers, the publication highlights the importance of continuous education for decision-makers, public officials, and the wider public on the rights of persons with disabilities and the concept of inclusion as a foundation of modern society.
The goal of this publication is to inform, empower, and encourage stakeholders at all levels of government to actively contribute to creating an accessible and dignified environment for all citizens, regardless of their physical or sensory abilities.
📄 You can download the publication here:
📚 Pored navedenog na sledem linku možete preuzeti detaljan Izvještaj o sprovedenom mapiranju objekata u javnoj upotrebi od autorke Valentine Pantović u sklopu MASTER projekta
This analysis was developed within the project “Inclusive Design: Removing Barriers, Creating Opportunities,” implemented by the Network for European Policies – MASTER, with financial support from the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, through the public call “Equal Access, Equal Opportunities.”