It's about ability
The aim of the campaign "It's about ability" is to promote inclusion of children with disabilities into society. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice survey conducted among 1,000 citizens in all parts of Montenegro in August 2010 showed a considerable social distance towards children with disabilities.
Every second citizen thinks that children with disabilities should go to special educational institutions and that it is in their best interest to live in special institutions instead of being with their families. In contrast, fifty years of research demonstrates that children in institutions will not develop in the same way as children living in families. Normal child development requires frequent one-to-one interactions with a care-giver. Child placement, in any kind of institution, should be a measure of last resort and for the shortest time possible.
- Only 42% of citizens would accept that a child with disabilities goes to the same school as their child.
- 41% of citizens fear that inclusive education would produce negative effects on children.
- Just one out of five citizens wouldn't mind the child with disabilities to be the best friend of their child.
The campaign’s key messages – Where many see difficulties, we see opportunities; where many see obstacles, we see friendship; where many see weakness, we see courage; and where many see burden, we see love – will be posted on billboards and city lights all over the country for 3 months in order to stimulate Montenegrin citizens to welcome children with physical and/or learning disabilities into their homes, communities and hearts without fear or prejudice.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child includes the principle of non-discrimination which calls for the same minimum standards for every child; that children be cared for by their parents, that all children have access to services, to protection and that their dignity be respected, no matter who is caring for them. Specifically, article 23 of the UN CRC refers to the rights of children with disabilities guaranteeing them the right to special care, education and training to help them enjoy a full and decent life in dignity and achieve the greatest degree of self-reliance and social integration possible. Ensuring the full enjoyment of their rights on an equal basis with other children is the responsibility not only of the government, but of every member of society.
Find out more about the campaign
Latest news from the campaign
UNICEF National Ambassador Rambo Amadeus and Montenegro's children sing about equity
PODGORICA, January 24, 2012 – “Under the sky we are all equal, although we are different among each other” - sing Montenegro’s children and UNICEF Montenegro National Ambassador Rambo Amadeus in the It’s about ability song launched on December 26, 2011.
Survey: It’s about ability campaign results in positive change for children with disability in Montenegro
PODGORICA, 14 December 2011 – Montenegro’s Prime Minister Igor Luksic and UNICEF Representative Benjamin Perks today unveiled the impact of the groundbreaking campaign It’s about ability promoting inclusion of children with disabilities into society.
Children Discuss Inclusion with Ministers and Parliamentarians on the 22nd Anniversary of UN CRC
PODGORICA, 21 November, 2011 - On the occasion of the anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, more than 60 children from all over Montenegro had an opportunity to ask questions related to key child rights issues to the high government
OneMinutesJr at International TV Festival in Bar
BAR, 24 – 29 October, 2011 - 20 young people from Montenegro successfully finished the One Minutes Juniors film workshop, organised as part of the International TV Festival in Bar and supported by UNICEF. The result, 20 one-minute films...
It’s About Ability at the biggest sport event in recent Montenegrin history
PODGORICA, October 7, 2011 - The Euro qualifiers match between Montenegro and England yet again placed the It’s About Ability campaign in the spotlight of nationwide efforts to promote inclusion of children with disabilities into Montenegrin society.
Festival of Culture and Nature “Otter Fest 2011″ joins the It’s About Ability campaign
VIRPAZAR, SEPTEMBER 11, 2011 - Within the It’s About Ability campaign, children with disabilities, together with their peers, enjoyed in the activities of the fourth annual Festival of Culture and Nature “Otter Fest 2011″ on September 10 and 11.
Summer camp for children with and without disabilities held in Cetinje
CETINJE, August 24, 2011 – Within the It’s About Ability campaign, 36 children with and without disabilities from Zabljak, Kolasin, Niksic, Podgorica and Cetinje have learned about their rights and responsibilities as democratic citizens during a five day
Art workshops for children with and without disabilities organized in Kotor
KOTOR, July 2 – 10, 2011 - Around 20 children with and without disabilities from all over Montenegro were part of the 19th Children’s Theatre Festival in Kotor.
Children with and without disabilities enjoy jazz together in Bijelo Polje
BIJELO POLJE, July 2, 2011 – More than 50 children with and without disabilities danced and sang famous Disney Jazz songs with UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Rambo Amadeus and jazz musicians in Bijelo Polje on Saturday, July 2.
Children Get Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Braille, Audio and Sign Language for the First Time in the Balkans
CETINJE, 8 JUNE, 2011 – Within the It’s about ability campaign, six children with visual and hearing impairments received the first copies of the child friendly version of the CRPD in Braille, audio and sign language in the Balkans.
It's about ability in 2011
PLJEVLJA, JUNE 3, 2011 – Within the second phase of the It’s about ability campaign, Pljevlja’s municipal parliament will have a special session on creating inclusive local communities from 11.00 to 12.30 on Friday, June 3.
Children and adults of Bar and Ulcinj talk about abilities
BAR, Montenegro, 16 May 2011 - After the March event in Bijelo Polje, the Municipality of Bar hosted an Inter-generational dialogue on inclusion of children with disabilities.
Children with disabilities visited the Italian Embassy in Podgorica
PODGORICA, April 21, 2011 - As part of the second phase of the ‘It’s About Ability’ campaign children with disabilities visited the Italian Embassy in Podgorica
Inclusive soft play areas opened in primary schools in Podgorica
PODGORICA, March 22, 24, 2011 – Thanks to donation from Podgoricka bank Societe Generale Group who joined the 'It's About Ability' campaign by supporting the opening of the specially equipped inclusive play areas
Intergenerational dialogue on inclusion in Bijelo Polje
BIJELO POLJE, 7 March 2011 – More than thirty children with and without disabilities met in Bijelo Polje with representatives of national and local authorities from northern municipalities to discuss actions to be taken to support full inclsuion
EU support to boost social inclusion in Montenegro
PODGORICA, 23 February 2011 – The Ministry of Labour & Social Welfare, the Ministry of Education & Sport, the Delegation of the EU to Montenegro, UNICEF & UNDP launched “The Social Welfare & Child Care System Reform – Enhancing Social Inclusion" project.
"It's about ability" campaign honoured for the best humanitarian action in Montenegro
PODGORICA, 15 February 2011 - The UNICEF Montenegro campaign 'Govorimo o mogucnostima' wins the 2010 best humanitarian action award.
Closing of the first phase of the awareness raising campaign on inclusion of children with disabilities “It’s about ability”
PODGORICA, DECEMBER 20, 2010 – Mr. Milo Djukanovic, Prime Minister and Ms. Noala Skinner, UNICEF Montenegro Representative, together with children, will present the key results of the three month awareness raising campaign “It’s about ability”
Basketball for everyone
PODGORICA, December 4, 2010 – Within the “It’s about ability” campaign and on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, around 100 children with and without disabilities will play basketball in the Sport Centre “Moraca” on Dec 4
It’s about ability in Podgorica’s local parliaments
PODGORICA, December 3, 2010 – Within the “It’s about ability” campaign, on December 3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, at 11.00am, Podgorica’s local parliament will have a special session on inclusion of children with disabilities.
It's About Ability in Kotor and Pljevlja
KOTOR - NOVEMBER 30, PLJEVLJA – DECEMBER 2, 2010 – Within the “It’s about ability” campaign, on November 30th at 11.00am in Kotor and on December 2 at 11.00am in Pljevlja
Podgoricka Banka Societe Generale Group donates to the campaign "It's about ability"
PODGORICA, NOVEMBER 8, 2010 – Up to 7,500 children involved in inclusive education in 5 primary schools in Podgorica will have an opportunity to play in soft play areas equipped to stimulate child's development.
Elektroprivreda and UK Embassy donate for the campaign "It's about ability"
PODGORICA, NOVEMBER 3, 2010 – Elektroprivreda and UK Embassy provide donations to the campaign It's About Ability.
Children discuss inclusion with Rambo Amadeus, UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador
TIVAT, November 4, 2010 – Within the It’s about ability campaign, UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador Rambo Amadeus together with the Deputy Minister of Education Vesna Vucurovic will join the special session about inclusion of children with disabilities.
It's about ability in local parliaments
Presentations in local parliaments all over Montenegro about the benefits of an inclusive society within the campaign “It’s about ability”
Special Session of the Municipal Parliament of Bijelo Polje
Session of the Municipal Parliament - Adoption of the final report on the implementation of the local plan of action for children 2005-2010 and support to "It's about ability" campaign
Youth filmmakers nominated for awards
NEW YORK/AMSTERDAM, 21 October 2010 – UNICEF and the One Minutes Foundation announced last week the nominees for the 2010 Oneminutesjr. Awards.
Parliamentarians discuss child rights and inclusion of children with disabilities
October 15, 2010 - Bijelo Polje holds the first in a series of special sessions of municipal parliaments across Montenegro in support of the campaign “It’s About Ability”
'Konvencija o pravima osoba sa invaliditetom' predstavljena crnogorskoj javnosti
Podgorica, Crna Gora - 28 septembar 2010 – Djeca sa smetnjama u razvoju u centru su pažnje crnogorske javnosti.
Govorimo o mogucnostima
“Govorimo o mogucnostima” – kampanja podizanja svijesti o inkluziji djece sa smetnjama u razvoju Vlade Crne Gore, UNICEF-a, Evropske komisije, Udruzenja roditelja djece sa smetnjama u razvoju i drugih partnera.
It’s about ability
“It’s about ability” – awareness raising campaign on inclusion of children with disabilities by UNICEF, Government of Montenegro, European Commission, Associations of parents of children with disabilities and other partners
Govorimo o mogućnostima
Podgorica 10. septembar 2010 - U sljedeća tri mjeseca, lica djece sa smetnjama u razvoju ozariće Crnu Goru.
Launch of the campaign "It's about ability"
PODGORICA, Montenegro - 10 September, 2010 - For the next three months, the faces of children with disability will light up Montenegro. Across the country, billboards showing children with disability as active members of society.
Govorimo o mogućnostima
PODGORICA, January 24, 2012 – “Under the sky we are all equal, although we are different among each other” - sing Montenegro’s children and UNICEF Montenegro National Ambassador Rambo Amadeus in the It’s about ability song launched on December 26, 2011.
It's about ability
PODGORICA, Montenegro - September 10, 2010 - The Government of Montenegro, UNICEF and EU Delegation launch a three month awareness raising campaign on inclusion of children with disabilities
