The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities today concluded its review of the combined second and third periodic report of Ukraine, with Committee Experts appreciating the State's efforts to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities during the war, while also raising questions on children, including those with disabilities, who had been forcibly transported to Russian controlled areas, and the construction of new institutions in Ukraine.
A Committee Expert appreciated the efforts of the Government of Ukraine to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities during the challenging times of war.
Amalia Gamio, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, said the Committee's major concerns included the children with disabilities who were facing the consequences of the armed conflict and being separated from their families Information had been received of the forced transport of children, including those with disabilities, from territories in Ukraine to territories under Russian control. Around 200,000 children had been illegally transported to occupied territories. What was the situation of these children who were taken away?
Ms. Gamio also noted that the State said it was prioritising deinstitutionalisation. What was being done by the Government to deter investment in institutions? In several regions, institutions had been built using private investment, including German funds, in coordination with Ukrainian donors. What could be done to stop these hospitals being built? What measures were being taken to apply the moratorium properly, so no more people entered institutions?
The delegation said official statistics stated that 19,546 children had been forcibly displaced by Russian forces, but it was understood that these numbers were likely to be under reported. The Government was working with partners, including the United Nations Children's Fund, to facilitate the return of children to Ukrainian territories. The Government had introduced the "Bring Kids Back" initiative to facilitate the return of children. The children who had returned were provided with a comprehensive set of services, including psychological support, social services and education.
The delegation said deinstitutionalisation was a key priority for the Government. A coordination centre was established to ensure the development of family-based forms of care for children, including children with disabilities. Under the coordination centre, a regional council had been established to ensure a coordinated approach and information sharing on deinstitutionalisation. This included preventing institutions from being established. The State stressed to development partners that investment should not be made into institutional care settings, but instead should be channelled into the development of community-based services to support children with disabilities.
Iryna Postolovska, Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine for European Integration and head of the delegation, presenting the report, said Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine had caused widespread destruction, resulting in the loss of human lives and livelihoods. Today, 2.8 million people lived with disabilities in Ukraine, yet this number was continually increasing due to the Russian invasion. The war had caused a sharp increase in the number of people with disabilities. For Ukraine, protecting the rights of persons with disabilities during the war and ensuring their integration into society was of utmost importance.
In closing remarks, Ms. Postolovska said the devastating impact of Russia's full-scale invasion had touched on many spheres of life in Ukraine. Despite this, since the full-scale invasion, the Government had been able to provide social services to all vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities.
Saowalak Thongkuay, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, thanked the delegation for the open dialogue. Implementation gaps when it came to the Convention remained in many areas, in particular for women, children and older persons with disabilities living in conflict-affected areas. The Committee would elaborate on all issues within their concluding observations for Ukraine's further action.
The delegation of Ukraine was comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine for European Integration; Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitisation; the President's Commissioner for the barrier-free society issues; the Fund for Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities; and the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee's thirty-first session and other documents related to the session can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, 5 September to hold a meeting with States parties. It will publicly close its thirty-first session at 3 p.m.
Report
The Committee has before it the combined second and third periodic report of Ukraine (CRPD/C/UKR/2-3).
Presentation of Report
IRYNA POSTOLOVSKA, Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine for European Integration and head of the delegation, said Ukraine was facing a new reality which required extraordinary efforts to protect its most vulnerable citizens. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine had caused widespread destruction, resulting in the loss of human lives and livelihoods. More than six million Ukrainians had been forced to seek safety abroad, with an additional five million internally displaced within Ukraine. The war was profoundly shaping Ukrainian society, introducing new challenges which would need to be overcome for many years. Today, 2.8 million people lived with disabilities in Ukraine, yet this number was continually increasing due to the Russian invasion.
Ukraine had already made significant progress in aligning legislation with the provisions of the Convention. The Government had taken concerted steps to eliminate barriers that prevented people with disabilities from participating in social, cultural, and professional life. This included everything from rapid and effective rehabilitation to integration into the professional environment.
In April 2021, the Government adopted the National Strategy for a Barrier-Free Environment until 2030, which aimed to ensure accessibility and equal opportunities for all citizens in Ukraine, with a corresponding two-year action plan. During 2023, 255 measures outlined in the action plan were implemented. Key results included 15 State building standards, taking into account modern accessibility requirements; the implementation of the system for assessing loss of functionality; and the implementation of early intervention services for parents raising children with developmental disabilities in pilot communities, including training of specialists to form a network of early intervention centres, among others.
To expand participation in social life of persons with disabilities, a new programme for driving schools for persons with disabilities was introduced. Under this project, 23 individuals completed training and received drivers' licenses. Ukraine continued to actively work towards the deinstitutionalisation of children and adults with disabilities, which remained a key priority. Two strategies were being developed in this regard, including activities such as the development of social services, and the development of assisted living facilities. This process was aimed at moving away from institutional care and enabling people to live independently in the community.
The war had caused a sharp increase in the number of people with disabilities. War veterans with injuries required substantial support to reintegrate into public life. Such support measures included physical and psychological rehabilitation, the provision of prosthetics, housing assistance, and employment reintegration, among others. A pilot project had been introduced to ensure a consistent rehabilitation process, early identification of service needs, and appropriate community support. Monthly data was exchanged on the number of individuals who had undergone limb amputations.
A key priority of the State was to enhance employment opportunities for persons with disabilities by creating effective support mechanisms and learning from good practices in other countries. In Ukraine, only 16 per cent of persons with disabilities were employed. The Social Protection Fund for Persons with Disabilities began automatically identifying and referring potential employees to the State Employment Centre in 2023. A draft law was being prepared to formally establish the right of persons with disabilities to receive social assistance, including personal assistance, support during employment, and reasonable accommodation measures.
Changes had been introduced to the official translation of the Convention to include plain language and accessible formats for people with intellectual disabilities. Concrete efforts had been made to ensure access to inclusive education. In June this year, the National Strategy for the Development of Inclusive Education was adopted until 2029, which aimed to take into account the individual needs of each child. For Ukraine, protecting the rights of persons with disabilities during the war and ensuring their integration into society was of utmost importance.
Questions by Committee Experts
AMALIA GAMIO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, said these were difficult years for Ukraine. The Committee was aware that the country was under invasion and deeply regretted it. In situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies, persons with disabilities faced serious protection and security problems and disproportionate impacts on their human rights. But it was also necessary to recognise the problems that had not been resolved since the ratification of the Convention 14 years ago. A big problem was the lack of active participation of organizations of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes and the fact that humanitarian action was not inclusive.
The Committee's major concerns included the children with disabilities who were facing the consequences of the armed conflict and being separated from their families, and the fact that new psychiatric hospitals were being rebuilt and even built, contrary to the terms of the Convention.
ODELIA FITUCCHI, Vice Chairperson and Taskforce Member, said Ukraine had a strong civil society supporting persons with disabilities during this difficult time. Ukrainian terminology still did not fully align with the Convention; for example, Ukraine's law on social protection for persons with disabilities forced personal assistance for certain people. What measures was the State taking to ensure the legislation was aligned with the Convention? How were the rights of persons with disabilities being ensured in occupied territories, including in relation to pensions?
The Committee had received information that women who provided care for those with disabilities were particularly impacted by the war, caring for persons around the clock. What measures were being implemented to share the burden for women in this context? What was the State party planning to do now to address these needs? The Committee had received information that women from rural communities particularly faced challenges in this regard.
Since 2015, how many persons had been brought to justice for direct or indirect restrictions on citizens' rights on the grounds of disability? What social services were provided to survivors of gender-based violence? There had been reports of children attacked in conflict areas; was this followed up on? How many children with Down syndrome were evacuated from conflict areas? Was there a database on children with disabilities in institutions?
What mechanisms were in place to ensure that children with disabilities freely expressed their views, including in the context of the current armed conflict? Until 2017, there was a prohibition of opening new classes in specialised schools to prevent the segregation of children with disabilities. In 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a strategy for inclusive education for children with disabilities.
AMALIA GAMIO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, said the parents of children in institutions had provided information that there was a lack of awareness raising and a lack of support provided to them.
ODELIA FITUCCHI, Vice Chairperson and Taskforce Member, said there was a gap between how the State described its involvement with civil society, and how civil society felt that they were involved. Could the delegation help the Committee understand this gap? Could the delegation comment on the accessibility of hospital services?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the process of alignment of legislation in accordance with the Convention was still in progress. It was closely connected with the Government reform of the process of the examination of disability. In May 2023, the Government adopted an action plan which aimed to change the approach from a medical diagnosis to the assessment of the needs of persons with disabilities. Draft laws were being prepared to change the notion of disability and the process of its support. The process would ensure health care, educational needs and employment to cover all the needs of a person with a disability. There would be no groups of disabilities; instead, each person would be assessed by their functional impairments. All procedures and legislation would be reformed.
In 2014, a separate mechanism was established for individuals residing in controlled territories of Ukraine to seek assistance. Unfortunately, there were issues in relation to accessing social assistance, as some of the areas where social assistance was provided were now occupied by the Russian Federation. The State was introducing the digitisation of services to enable individuals to access these services.
The main measure to help women caring for people with disabilities was to create the necessary social services for these people. In 2021, eight State standards for social services were adopted, including services such as temporary respite for parents and carers of children with disabilities. The situation was more urgent today due to the lack of social workers and other support. In 2023 and 2024, 2,000 families were provided with a multi-disciplinary team, including social workers, pedological workers and physical therapists who taught families how to use different assistive technologies, and how to be more informed on the needs of their children. The number of families who needed these services was high but the State aimed to ensure everyone could receive such a service. These teams were mainly located at big hospitals in cities. The State understood that rehabilitation systems needed to also be built at the local level.
More than 800 specialised support centres were available across the country, including to ensure support for survivors of domestic violence. These mobile services provided psychological assistance and legal support. There were more than 11 survivor centres where individuals could also seek legal assistance. The Government was working to expand the capacity of social workers to deliver such support, including the provision of new programmes, particularly to deal with perpetrators of gender-based violence and to support survivors.
Many children residing in institutions were evacuated abroad at the start of the full-scale invasion. The State was currently developing a new comprehensive programme and support to provide family-based forms of care to all children, including those with disabilities. Many times, families had been unwilling to leave their places of residence near the frontline, and as such a mechanism was adopted which provided for the compulsory evacuation of one of the parents with the children to safe areas.
One of the demands on the newly adopted laws on media established that all media should prepare easy read information concerning the rights and benefits of persons with disabilities. Buildings which were newly constructed were expected to be in accordance with State building standards. Concerning the involvement of civil society, they were involved in different ways, and the State aimed to include the organizations of persons with disabilities in all provisions. Basic requirements had been established for hospitals, including broader accessibility of the buildings. During 2024, the Ministry of Health had introduced amended license standards for rehabilitation centres, which meant services could not be provided if they were not accessible.
Questions by Committee Expert
SAOWALAK THONGKUAY, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, asked what indicators were provided for monitoring accessibility? How were they benchmarked with the Convention standards? What were Government efforts to adopt specific measures to ensure internally displaced persons with disabilities had access to services despite the armed conflict?
A Committee Expert deeply appreciated the efforts of the Government of Ukraine to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities during the challenging times of war. It was crucial that the reconstruction of centres such as healthcare, education and public spaces incorporated universal design principles to ensure accessibility for all. How did the Government plan to cooperate with persons with disabilities to create a truly inclusive life for all citizens? Were there plans to ensure accessibility standards in law for reconstruction in the near future?
AMALIA GAMIO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, asked how many children with disabilities had benefitted from the services of resilience centres? Did the Government call on the regions to comply with the Convention?
ODELIA FITUCCHI, Vice Chairperson and Taskforce Member, asked if Government websites were accessible to persons with disabilities? This was particularly important during times of war. Were accessible maps provided online?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Ukraine plan stipulated that any new building met accessibility requirements. Recently, a decree of the Cabinet of Ministers was adopted, which enabled money to be granted to the person with disability to choose their own services. The Government was introducing and implementing measures to increase financial support for non-professional services, such as mothers caring for their children. To date, more than 200 resilience centres were already active. Specific legislation provided support for children with disabilities, including financial support for care services provided to these children. Such support was provided to more than 120,000 parents of children who provided the care services to their children. Parents who were unemployed also received compensatory financial assistance.
Accessibility for websites was one of the priorities in the implementation of the National Strategy for a Barrier-Free Environment. The Ministry of Social Policy had ordered a web analysis of the Government website. Unfortunately, it was constructed 10 years ago and did not comply with current standards. A new contract had just been signed and it was hoped that in a few months the new accessible website would be built.
Questions by Committee Experts
AMALIA GAMIO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, asked what measures were being taken to involve persons with disabilities in planning and implementing humanitarian policies, including on the ground to respond to the current armed conflict? Were policies being adapted for the repeal of institutionalisation policies?
Information had been received of the forced transport of children, including those with disabilities, from territories in Ukraine to territories under Russian control. Around 200,000 children had been illegally transported to occupied territories. What was the situation of these children who were taken away? How was it ensured that children with disabilities could receive alerts about explosives? It was understood that certain persons stayed in institutions and died as they had not received timely notification of an attack.
The Committee continued to be concerned about the extremely low number of proceedings and sentences re-establishing legal capacity for persons with disability. Information had been received that 80 per cent of requests in this regard had been denied by the courts. What was being done to resolve this problem? Were there steps to move towards supported decision-making? What measures were being taken to repeal laws which would allow the hospitalisation of persons with disabilities against their will? Information had been received that in institutions, there were major violations of the human rights of women and children taking place. What was being done to address this? The Committee had information that new institutions were being built using European Union funds, and old institutions were being repaired. Could the delegation comment on this?
ODELIA FITUCCHI, Vice Chairperson and Taskforce Member, said it was important to develop a solution for persons with disabilities to live in communities.
SAOWALAK THONGKUAY, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, said before the war, 41,000 persons with disabilities had been declared legally incompetent and faced deprivation of their basic human rights. Could an update on the situation of these people be provided? Which institutions did they live in? How did they access social services?
AMALIA GAMIO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, asked if the recommendations of the Subcommittee against Torture for Ukraine to prevent impunity had been acted on? At the start of 2019, more than 48,000 internally displaced persons were registered as persons of disabilities. Up to now, how many persons with disabilities were registered as internally displaced persons? How were the needs of persons with disabilities met at border points? Were there accessible bathrooms and other facilities? How many internally displaced persons with disabilities had been granted access to housing?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the State actively worked with humanitarian partners to ensure that support reached all those who needed it. For example, financial assistance top-ups were provided to children and older persons with disabilities. With the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the State was working to support the evacuation of geriatric institutions in the areas close to the fighting.
Deinstitutionalisation was a key priority for the Government, which was working on two strategies in this regard, one for children and one for older persons and adults with disabilities.
Official statistics stated that 19,546 children had been forcibly displaced by Russian forces, but it was understood that these numbers were likely to be under reported. The Government was working with partners, including the United Nations Children's Fund, to facilitate the return of children to Ukrainian territories. The Government had introduced the "Bring Kids Back" initiative to facilitate the return of children. The children who had returned were provided with a comprehensive set of services, including psychological support, social services and education.
Currently there was a system in Ukraine to alert citizens of upcoming threats and attacks by the Russian Federation. This included loudspeakers and sirens placed in communities across Ukraine. Information was also provided through television and radio broadcasting. In addition, there were a number of applications in smart phones which alerted individuals either through individual alerts or through vibration symbols. It was ensured that persons with disabilities had access to smartphones.
The number of people with psychosocial disabilities was increasing in Ukraine due to the war. The longest term for which legal capacity could be limited was up to two years. The mechanism of assistive decision-making was a priority of the State, but the necessary training for social workers and Government bodies was not in place. The Government did not plan to rebuild institutions, but to create social services which would secure the possibility for people with disabilities to be socially integrated.
The National Social Service of Ukraine conducted monitoring visits to facilities with adults and children jointly with the Ombudsman's Office. These visits were also conducted abroad and were conducted on a regular basis. If there was an allegation of a human rights violation, the authorities in Ukraine investigated such cases. Currently no institutions were being built using European Union funds. Only in exceptional cases were minor repairs being conducted if individuals continued to reside there. The State continued to make concerted efforts to find community-based arrangements for children and adults.
From 2022 to 2024, 29 visits were undertaken to prisons and other facilities. There were 855 convicts receiving disability pensions. The number of cases of conflict-related sexual violence had increased due to Russia's full-scale invasion. More than 200 cases had been reported but it was understood that the numbers were sufficiently higher. The Government was introducing support social services for survivors. It was hoped these would be scaled up in the future.
There were more than 200,000 persons with disabilities who had been internally displaced and received Government support. Border crossings were built accessibly for all Ukrainian citizens. Not all border crossing were fully accessible in terms of restrooms. However, those built recently had to abide by State building standards in terms of accessibility. Resources in local communities were limited due to the number of internally displaced persons, amounting to more than four million people. Currently, the State was not able to provide accessible housing to every person.
Questions by Committee Experts
AMALIA GAMIO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, asked about the review of a regulation which prevented internally displaced persons, including persons with disabilities, to stay more than 70 days in areas outside Government control. Could more information on this be provided?
The State said they were prioritising deinstitutionalisation. It was not European Union funds, but rather private investment, which was being used to build new hospitals. What was being done by the Government to deter investment in institutions? In several regions, institutions had been built using private investment, including German funds, in coordination with Ukrainian donors. What could be done to stop these hospitals from being built? What measures were being taken to apply the moratorium properly, so no more people entered institutions. Had children with disabilities been involved in the deinstitutionalisation plan?
Was there sign language interpretation provided in courts? Were there any persons with disabilities who worked as lawyers or judges in Ukraine?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said there was freedom for people to move within Ukraine and individuals who required social assistance support or pensions could relocate their place of residence.
Deinstitutionalisation was a key priority for the Government. A coordination centre was established to ensure the development of family-based forms of care for children, including children with disabilities. A draft strategy was being revised and would be submitted to the Cabinet. It had been developed in close collaboration with key non-governmental organizations across the country, as well as international partners. The plan aimed to promote community-based services to provide necessary support to families, to prevent children from going into institutions in the first place. There was also a comprehensive programme being developed to support children currently in institutions to ensure they grew up in families. At the same time, the Government was working on a deinstitutionalisation strategy for adults with disabilities.
Under the coordination centre, a regional council had been established to ensure a coordinated approach and information sharing on deinstitutionalisation. This included preventing institutions from being established. The State stressed to development partners that investment should not be made into institutional care settings, but instead should be channelled into the development of community-based services to support children with disabilities. The State aimed to ensure that such private investment to institutions would be eliminated moving forwards. The plan was developed with broad stakeholder consultations, including the perspectives of organizations representing children with disabilities, as well as those of adults with lived-institution experience.
There were several lawyers operating in Ukraine who were blind. There was no information available on judges with disabilities.
Questions by Committee Experts
ODELIA FITUCCHI, Vice Chairperson and Taskforce Member, asked if there was accessibility in places of pretrial detention? It was understood that guardianship in Ukraine was under the old system, not according to the Convention. What was being done to change this system to supported decision-making?
An Expert asked what strategies had been developed to ensure compliance by the security sector on the respect for the rights of women and girls with disabilities and older persons with disabilities?
AMALIA GAMIO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, asked if criminal proceedings had been brought against the perpetrators who committed violations in institutions?
A Committee Expert asked if it was true that if persons with disabilities and elderly people did not come within 60 days to receive benefits, they would be deprived of such benefits? If this was true, it was an inappropriate measure. What measures were in place to provide psychosocial and physical rehabilitation for veterans with disabilities?
Another Expert said the State had been working on the martial law. To what extent did this impact the Government's actions towards the implementation of the Convention?
AMALIA GAMIO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, said institutionalisation was a major concern. In one area, there was a new building, just built by local volunteers.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Ukrainian legislation unfortunately did not provide for assisted decision-making. There had been several draft laws to change this regulation on guardianship but unfortunately, they had not been supported by parliament and were not adopted. In times of war, it was difficult to change these issues because of the risks concerned with the residences of these people. The State understood there needed to be a long trial period and pilot projects in this regard, some of which were already underway. It was hoped this would help the law to change.
Between 2022 and 2024, 29 inspections of penitentiary institutions and pretrial detention centres were conducted. Efforts were being made to ensure accessibility in all institutions. As of 1 July 2024, there were 1,189 persons with disabilities in penal institutions in pretrial detention centres.
There were more than 1,100 services for victims of domestic violence, including 58 shelters providing 24 hour accommodation and 92 crisis rooms, among others.
Investigations into violations in institutions were underway and answers would be provided in writing.
In certain areas, the Government was attempting to evacuate people, including those with disabilities, as a result of their work in mines. Given the attacks by the Russian forces, there could also be forced or mandatory evacuation from these areas.
Since the full-scale invasion, the Government had changed its policy on social benefits and now took all possible lengths to identify people and continue to pay their social benefits. The pension fund now used any possible bank account to transfer the pension and the person had the possibility to withdraw money or cash from the bank.
The Government worked on evacuation routes, including trains, which were accessible to persons with disabilities. Currently, there were 1,054 places of temporary residence for internally displaced person who could receive temporary housing. Of these, 328 were fully barrier free.
Payments to children with disabilities were continued automatically since the full-scale invasion, for the full period of martial law.
Questions by Committee Experts
SAOWALAK THONGKUAY, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, said it was difficult for persons with disabilities to receive mobility assistance during the conflict. How was the Government providing timely assistance of technology products to persons with cognitive communication, hearing, mobility and vision issues in urban and rural areas, including conflict-affected territories?
How was it ensured that the private sector implemented the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines? Sign language had not received official recognition by the Government. What were the efforts to ensure sign language interpreters for users of public services, particularly in television broadcasting? What were Government efforts to adopt a curriculum on sign language in all cities and at all levels? What mechanisms were in place to monitor the implementation of the Convention? Ukraine was multilingual; what measures were being taken to promote the language and communication needs of all persons with disabilities?
What measures were being taken to protect the health and sensitive data of persons with disabilities while the martial law was in effect? Reports had been received that children with disabilities had been separated from their families during the conflict without official records. How would these children be relocated back if there were no official records? What was being done to establish official records?
How was the right to education of children with disabilities guaranteed in the context of the war? How would education be continued after the conflict? What efforts was the State taking to adopt a plan to enhance the participation of students with disabilities in inclusive education? How would individualised support be provided? How were students being supported to use Ukrainian sign language within schools?
Reports had been received that there were no measures taken to provide affordable health care to internally displaced persons, with or without disabilities. Could the State clarify the emergency plan on health? How did persons with disabilities participate in the assessment for individual needs for rehabilitation? What measures were being taken to reform the law on rehabilitation.
A low per centage of persons with disabilities were currently employed. How was the State developing procedures to encourage employment? What efforts were being made to promote inclusive workplaces and protect against all forms of discrimination? The Committee had received a report that the Government had delayed adopting a law ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities to work. Could an update on the situation be provided?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said unfortunately, due to the full-scale invasion, the number of people with disabilities requiring assistive devices had increased significantly. The budget for these devices had been doubled. More than 20,000 wheelchairs and 15,000 protheses had been provided to persons with disabilities to significantly increase their mobility. Persons with disabilities had the possibility to obtain compensation for devices which helped them orientate and communicate, including mobile phones and tablets.
An annual survey was being conducted to assess the accessibility of websites, including Government websites. According to the latest information, 22 per cent of websites were found to be fully inclusive. Additional work was currently underway to improve the accessibility of Government websites.
The draft law on Ukrainian sign language was registered in 2019 in Parliament. It was hoped it would be adopted soon. Sign language curriculums were already available in certain universities in Ukraine. A five-year action plan had been adopted, covering activities to be conducted by various stakeholders in regard to the implementation of the Convention.
While Ukraine was a multilingual country, according to law, the official language was Ukrainian, and it was highly supported for it to be used in all State bodies and institutions. At the same time, Ukraine supported the possibility to communicate in other languages on a private basis, including for those using assistive devices.
Ukraine had introduced digital systems where data was safe. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Russian armed forces had used paper files to detect persons with disabilities who were previously active service men. This meant some people were killed or tortured. Therefore, Ukraine made a decision that all information should be stored in digital registers, and access would be terminated if it was considered dangerous to the individuals.
Currently, more than 2,000 Ukrainian children remained abroad, evacuated to European Union countries, Türkiye and the Republic of Moldova. A decree established procedures for the evacuation, as well as for the children's return. These were children residing in institutions in Ukraine who were evacuated at the start of the full-scale invasion, without the proper documents in place. The Government was conducting monitoring visits to conduct individual needs assessments for each child. The Government was also developing a comprehensive database which would share information across various registries and ensure information was safely stored.
The National Strategy for Inclusive Education up to 2029 had been adopted in June this year. At present, education needs for students with disabilities was guaranteed under the law. In June 2024, a law was adopted on preschool education, which included the conditions of inclusion and special preschool education classes. Inclusive resource centres continued to function under the martial law. There were 666 resource centres with pedagogical workers, including speech therapists, special education teachers and psychologists.
Persons with hearing impairments had the right to learn Ukrainian sign language. During the previous academic year, 34,000 children with disabilities were studying in specialised schools. There were 40,000 children in inclusive classes. The number of children learning in inclusive classes had increased significantly since 2018.
The burden on healthcare facilities had increased significantly due to the number of people affected by the war. Ukraine had established the mechanism of medical evacuation. More than 70 cars were equipped with necessary equipment, including surgery. Almost every day, these transported patients from the territories near the frontline to the western part of Ukraine and other regions. There was a mechanism of medical evacuation for persons who had severe illnesses. Mobile teams had been stationed in territories near the front line, so they had the possibility to provide primary medical care to people living there. Ukraine had a lack of medical staff in many healthcare facilities, but this was because many had been mobilised and were serving as active servicemen for the armed forces of Ukraine.
A decree had been adopted which provided the right to multi-disciplinary rehabilitation, and to assign the necessary assistive devices to any persons in the rehabilitation process. Revisions to the law on rehabilitation were currently being envisaged.
There were several obstacles preventing the right to work for persons with disabilities, including the absence of the Labour Code. The Government had drafted the Labour Code, which was being filed to the Parliament. It was hoped the Parliament would soon adopt this as law. One of the obstacles was the procedure of assessment of disability. For this reason, the State was implementing the reform of medical and social expertise to allow for a separate assessment concerning the labour activity of persons with disabilities.
Questions by Committee Experts
An Expert asked what support was available to parents, both those with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities, so they were not separated from their children? It was understood that persons were given compensation to buy their own assistive devices, which was a change in the process. What was the impact of this change and how were people able to secure the necessary devices and equipment?
ODELIA FITUCCHI, Vice Chairperson and Taskforce Member, asked how many organizations of persons with disabilities were involved in strategies at any level across all sectors? It was understood that there was a website for work in the free market, developed by persons with disabilities. What was the Government planning to do to support and invest in this website? What kind of support was provided to persons with disabilities to be able to work and receive the training they needed?
SAOWALAK THONGKUAY, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, said the Committee had received reports that older persons and women with disabilities living in rural areas had difficulty accessing social benefits. What was being done to combat this? What steps were being taken to repeal the Electoral Code and ensure that persons declared incompetent could have the right to vote?
AMALIA GAMIO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, said information had been received that the Health Ministry had brought health medication for rare diseases, but few children had received it, and the medication was now out of date. Could the delegation comment on this?
A Committee Expert said Ukraine's Family Code considered a marriage of persons with disabilities to be invalid. What plans were in place to repeal such discriminatory clauses in the Marriage Code and ensure that persons with disabilities had the right to marry? How was it ensured that children with disabilities were not rejected by schools?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said since 2018, the mechanism of the provision of assistive devices had changed significantly. At the moment, the person had the possibility to choose any provider in Ukraine. They could choose if they wished to purchase such a device and be reimbursed, or it would be provided by the supplier and the supplier would receive compensation from the State. The people mainly selected provision from the supplier, due to the cost.
The Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine had formed a public council which included only representatives of persons with disabilities. The public council had the opportunity to approve drafts of legislation prepared by the Ministry and provide their input to draft decrees and resolutions.
The Government of Ukraine had simplified registration procedures to access social benefits, including through using digital and online platforms. Jointly with the World Food Programme, top-up measures had been introduced to ensure financial top-ups for individuals living in rural areas. This included to areas which were being evacuated. According to the Ukrainian Constitution, the conduct of elections during martial law was prohibited. It was impossible due to the risks and dangers during this time.
The Government was currently introducing several services to support families with children with disabilities. One of these was the early intervention service, in which a multidisciplinary team of professionals worked closely with the family to ensure the focus was on the provision of such services and support to parents in the household, rather than encouraging individuals to send their children to institutions. The municipal nanny programme provided for care of children to the age of six, particularly for internally displaced parents.
The National Strategy for Inclusive Education promoted inclusive education at all levels. Inclusive education was on a positive trend and the Government would continue to progress in this area. Ukraine was willing to change the provisions of the Family Code in regard to the marriage of persons with disability.
Concluding Remarks
IRYNA POSTOLOVSKA, Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine for European Integration and head of the delegation, said it had been an honour to participate in the discussion on the implementation of the Convention in Ukraine. The devastating impact of Russia's full-scale invasion had touched on many spheres of life in Ukraine. Despite the progress made by the Government, certain challenges remained, including the destruction of civilian infrastructure, education facilities and health facilities, among others. Despite this, since the full-scale invasion, the Government had been able to provide social services to all vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities. Ms. Postolovska thanked the Committee for their support and questions over the past two days.
SAOWALAK THONGKUAY, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, thanked the delegation for the open dialogue. Implementation gaps when it came to the Convention remained in many areas, in particular for women, children and older persons with disabilities living in conflict-affected areas. Monitoring mechanisms were ineffective to evaluate results. Persons with disabilities were living their lives in difficulty before the conflict, and discrimination against them had only been amplified. The Committee would elaborate on all issues within their concluding observations for Ukraine's further action.
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