Parents of children with developmental difficulties in Montenegro face significant delays in receiving decisions from social medical committees associated with local social work centres. Many families have reported waiting for months without any updates on their applications, creating a critical situation for those seeking essential material rights and accompanying benefits. Advocates assert that the prolonged waits highlight a systemic issue for which the responsible ministry is accountable.
Families are increasingly left without necessary support. According to representatives from the non-governmental (NGO) sector, parents can file urgent requests, complaints to the ombudsman, or even lawsuits due to the “silence of the administration.” This stagnation exacerbates the already challenging circumstances faced by individuals with disabilities and their families.
Systemic Delays and Impact on Rights
Milisav Korac, president of the NGO Association of Parents of Children with Disabilities, commented on the unacceptable delays. He stated, “I was unaware of the specific case involving an eight-month wait, but there is no justification for such delays.” Korac emphasized that, once a right is granted, it is retroactive from the first month following the application submission.
He noted that international reports consistently highlight the struggles faced by individuals with disabilities in Montenegro. “Every year, the European Commission’s reports indicate that people with disabilities find it difficult to secure their rights and are subjected to various forms of discrimination,” Korac added. Such delays in processing applications are not isolated incidents but rather confirm longstanding concerns raised in these reports.
While parents may feel powerless, they have limited means to expedite the process. Korac indicated that individual parents often lack the capacity to influence the timeline. “Unfortunately, parents cannot do much individually; their hands are tied. They can complain to the ombudsman or write to the Minister of Social Welfare,” he explained. He also highlighted that NGOs do not have precise data on the number of parents attempting to secure rights through these committees, as most requests are directed to the social work centres.
Commission Dysfunction and Urgent Need for Action
The NGO Association of Youth with Disabilities in Montenegro also raised alarms about the operational challenges facing these committees. Marina Vujacic, executive director of the association, revealed that many requests remain unresolved due to the expired mandates of previous social medical committees. “They were reformed in the last quarter of last year, but reports indicate they have only met once,” Vujacic stated.
Many applicants are reportedly waiting since June for decisions that are critical for their well-being. “This is particularly problematic for individuals who previously received care allowances, as those rights have expired without timely reviews by the committees,” she noted. Consequently, these individuals lose access to related benefits, including travel concessions and utility subsidies.
Vujacic emphasized that citizens have legal recourse if their applications remain unaddressed beyond a month, as this constitutes a violation of social and child protection laws, as well as anti-discrimination legislation. “It is unacceptable for institutions to use retroactive payment as a justification for prolonged waiting periods,” she asserted.
The Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care, and Demography bears the primary responsibility for this situation, as it establishes committees and determines their meeting schedules. Vujacic pointed out that the ministry is well aware of the issues, which arise from either its actions or inactions.
She also drew attention to the ever-changing criteria for obtaining rights, noting that only a few months ago, the regulations governing eligibility were amended twice within a month. “Social protection and adequate living standards are rights that should not have an expiration date or be withheld at any point in life,” Vujacic stated, warning that such policies could push individuals with disabilities and their families into poverty.
Information from NGOs indicates that in some cities, as many as 2,000 requests are pending, while in others, there are over 1,000 unresolved applications. These delays not only hinder access to care allowances but also prevent families from receiving essential benefits.
Goran Lakovic from the NGO “Niste sami” advised parents facing these delays to take specific actions. “File a written urgency request referencing your case number. The centre is obliged to respond within eight days. You can also lodge a complaint with the ombudsman,” he suggested. Additionally, parents may pursue legal action against the administration for silence if the committee does not convene within a reasonable timeframe.
Lakovic criticized the ministry’s disregard for the concerns of NGOs, journalists, and the wider public. “By ignoring these voices, the ministry conveys more than a thousand empty promises we’ve been fed over the years,” he remarked. He highlighted the absurdity of the current situation, drawing a stark contrast between advanced technologies developed in other countries and the inefficiencies in Montenegro’s public services.
As the situation continues to deteriorate, Lakovic emphasized the pressing need for a national register of individuals with disabilities. “It becomes increasingly clear why the establishment of a register has been avoided for years. While the state ‘saves’ on paperwork, families incur enormous additional costs for services that should be provided by law,” he concluded.
Despite the challenges, Lakovic reaffirmed that parents will not back down. “If the ministry thinks this will become our ‘new normal’, they are gravely mistaken. We have no option to retreat; our children’s future is at stake,” he asserted.
Inquiries directed to the Ministry of Social Welfare regarding the delays in committee meetings and the lack of responses to parents and NGOs have gone unanswered. As of now, thousands of requests remain pending, leaving many families in a state of uncertainty and distress.
