The pan-disabilities conference "I Choose to Choose – Independently, in Secret, and with Dignity" was organised by EBU member, the Union of the Blind of Montenegro in Podgorica Montenegro, on November 9-10, 2023. This was an excellent opportunity for a delegation from the EBU secretariat, Executive Director Lars BOSSELMANN and Membership Officer Valerie BERTRAND-VIVANCOS, to get to know the Montenegrin organisation from a closer perspective.
The conference focused on enhancing the electoral experience for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Montenegro. It began with opening remarks by Goran MACANOVIC, Executive Director of the Union of the Blind of Montenegro, and featured speakers like Dominique WAAG from the OSCE Mission and Lars BOSSELMANN. A declaration with recommendations and calls for action was distributed to all attendees on the occasion.
During the conference Nikolina MILJIĆ, a member of the working group, presented recommendations for improving election legislation concerning persons with disabilities.
A panel on the "Challenges of Electoral Law Reform in Montenegro" featured insightful discussions with Nikoleta ĐUKANOVIĆ, Assistant Professor at the University of Donja Gorica, Goran PETROV, ODIHR Election Adviser, Nikola MUGOŠA, Chairperson of the State Election Commission; Milica KOVAČEVIĆ, Programme Director of the Center for Democratic Transition, and Marina VUJAČIĆ, Executive Director of the Association of Youth with Disabilities.
Anđela DRAGOVIĆ presented monitoring results on the representation of PWDs during the early parliamentary elections on June 11, 2023. A panel addressing the role of disability policy in political parties included representatives from various political parties.
Then Darko BRAJOVIĆ, the National Democratization Programme Officer in the OSCE Mission, presented research results on the "Experience of Voters with Disabilities during Local, Presidential, and Parliamentary Elections."
A panel on the "Experience, Challenges, Opportunities, and Possibilities in the Electoral System" included Lars BOSSELMANN, EBU Executive Director, Andreja VELJACA Executive Director of the Croatian and Lithuanian Blind Union, and Štefan KUSAR, CEO Union of the Blind and Partially sighted of Slovenia.
Another panel discussed opportunities for political participation of PWDs in the election cycle, featuring. Blagoje ŠTURANOVIĆ, Executive Director of NGO Mozaik Nikšić, Miroslava Mima IVANOVIĆ, Executive Director of NGO Initiative of Youth with Disabilities of Boka, Andrija SAMARDŽIĆ, President of the Union of the Blind of Montenegro; and a representative of the Organization of Persons with Hearing Impairments.
Goran MACANOVIC concluded the conference, highlighting key takeaways and underscoring the necessity for inclusivity and dignity in the electoral process for all citizens, especially those with disabilities.
Congratulations to the team of the Union of the Blind of Montenegro and to moderators Anđela DRAGOVIC and Nikolina MILJIC for making this a very impactful awareness raising event.