Experts of the public union “League of the Strong” took part in the 31st session of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which took place in Geneva (Switzerland) from August 12 to September 5. The organization was represented at the event by Kateryna Daineko, member of the Board of Directors of the League of the Strong, and Maryna Hornostai, Head of the Fundraising Department.
“There are still many problems in Ukraine in the field of protection of the rights of people with disabilities. In particular, the inaccessibility of infrastructure and insufficient control over compliance with standards make it difficult for people with disabilities to integrate into society. In addition, evacuation from the war zone and limited access to legal assistance and information point to the need for systemic changes that should be considered at all stages of the country’s reconstruction. Civil society organizations are now working at various levels to fill gaps and improve the situation of persons with disabilities. Therefore, it is important and valuable that our voice is taken into account in discussions such as this meeting in Geneva,” emphasized Kateryna Daineko, Board Member of the League of the Strong.
During the event, the Ukrainian civil society delegation, which included the League of the Strong, presented the Committee with an update on the situation of the rights of persons with disabilities in Ukraine during the full-scale Russian invasion. The document was prepared jointly by the League of the Strong, the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine, Fight For Right, and the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union. The report is based on the standards of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It assesses the situation of Ukrainians with disabilities after February 2022.
Also, during a closed briefing with members of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the delegation discussed the main challenges related to the observance of the rights of girls and women with disabilities and the situation of persons with disabilities in war. They discussed the daily challenges that prevent persons with disabilities from living an independent life in their communities.
Based on the results of the meeting, the members of the Committee will make recommendations on the steps that Ukraine should take to improve the situation of the rights of persons with disabilities.
The study on the situation of the rights of people with disabilities in Ukraine was conducted with the support of the European Disability Forum, CBM International and the Disabled People’s Organization of Denmark. The results are available on the website of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.