Podgorica, (MINA) – The Constitutional Court of Montenegro will hold a public hearing in September as part of the process of assessing the constitutionality of the legislation that introduces the mandatory immunization of children as a condition for enrolment in kindergartens.

The Constitutional Court announced that the decision was made unanimously.

The Court received three initiatives seeking the review of the constitutionality of Article 41 and 42 of the Law on the Protection of the Population from Infectious Diseases, which prescribes that children must be vaccinated, except in cases of medical contraindications to a certain vaccine, in order to enroll in public and private preschool institutions.

It is stated that the applicants would be invited to the public hearing, namely the NGO Parents Association, Alternativa Crna Gora, as well as an individual applicant from Niksic.

According to the press release, the applicants argue that the disputed legal solution is not in line with the Constitution of Montenegro and ratified and published international treaties.

Representatives of the Parliament and the Government of Montenegro, namely the Ministry of Health, would also be invited to the public hearing.

Constitutional Court spokesperson Danilo Ajkovic said that the Court, given the importance of the issue and the fact that it raises issues concerns regarding public health, children’s rights, the right to education and the limits of permissible restrictions on human rights to protect public health, will also invite the expert community, as well as representatives of the Institute for Public Health of Montenegro, UNICEF and the WHO.

Ajkovic said that the goal of the public hearing is not to hold a debate for or against vaccination, but to determine whether the specific legal provision is in line with the Constitution.