Podgorica, (MINA) – An interactive map of support for LGBTIQ persons, presented by the Center for Monitoring and Research (CeMI), combines data on trained healthcare and social workers, as well as contact persons in local governments, and will facilitate access to services for this population.

This was announced at the round table discussion “Improving service availability and institutional protection of LGBTIQ persons in Montenegro – presentation of results and recommendations”, organized by CeMI.

CeMI public policy researcher Tamara Radunovic pointed out that in recent years, Montenegro has made significant progress in establishing a legislative framework for the protection of human rights and improving the position of LGBTIQ persons.

Radunovic said that as part of the project, they prepared an Analysis of the Application of the Same-Sex Life Partnership Law in the field of healthcare and social services and an Interactive Map of Support – a publicly available digital tool for easier access to information.

They collected and systematized data on healthcare and social workers who underwent specialized training to work with LGBTIQ individuals, as well as on contact persons for LGBTIQ rights in local governments operating within the Network for LGBTIQ Rights.

“In this way, the basis for the creation of the Interactive Map was created, which gathers information on the available support mechanisms in one place”, explained Radunovic.

She added that they included the community itself in the process, stating that they talked with members of the LGBTIQ community about their experiences in exercising their rights within the healthcare and social system.