A presentation of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ recommendations for Ukraine was held in Kyiv. Representatives of ministries, international organizations, and civil society gathered to discuss how to implement these recommendations at the national level to improve the rights and living conditions of people with disabilities in Ukraine. The event was organized by the NGO “League of the Strong”, with the support of Disabled People’s Organizations Denmark (DPOD).
“The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is part of Ukrainian legislation and serves as a guiding framework for us. The ‘League of the Strong,’ together with the National Assembly of People with Disabilities and the ‘Fight for Right’ organization, analyzed Ukraine’s progress in implementing the Convention. At the same time, the state is also accountable for fulfilling its obligations under this international treaty. Based on this, the UN Committee provided its recommendations,” said Daria Sydorenko, Executive Director of “League of the Strong,” in her opening remarks.
The expert highlighted key challenges to ensuring the rights of people with disabilities in Ukraine, as outlined in the civil society report. These include:
• The slow transition from a medical to a human rights-based approach to disability,
• A high level of institutionalization,
• Insufficient funding and poor quality of social services,
• Low public awareness of disability rights.
Based on this analysis, the UN Committee provided Ukraine with specific recommendations to enhance the effective implementation of the Convention at the national level. During the event, Kateryna Daineko, a Board Member of “League of the Strong,” presented a summary of these recommendations.
“The Committee’s recommendations should be viewed as a joint action plan—one that involves the state, civil society, organizations of people with disabilities, and individuals advocating for their rights and interests. These recommendations are not meant as criticism; rather, they are a roadmap for improvement. We should appreciate the Committee for conducting this analysis and offering us what is essentially a prescription for change from an experienced doctor,” Daineko emphasized.
Key Findings and Recommendations
Among the positive steps noted by the Committee were the adoption of several strategic documents at the national level and Ukraine’s accession to key international treaties, including:
• The National Action Plan for the Implementation of the Convention,
• The National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment and its Action Plan,
• The National Action Plan for the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325,
• The ratification and implementation of the Istanbul Convention on the Prevention of Domestic Violence.
However, the Committee also underscored the responsibility of the aggressor state, emphasizing that the Russian Federation is accountable for upholding the rights of people with disabilities in the temporarily occupied territories and among deported populations. The Committee also called on Russia to halt military actions against civilians in Ukraine.
Challenges in Implementing the Convention
The Committee highlighted several key concerns regarding the general provisions of the Convention, including:
• The use of outdated terminology and classification of persons with disabilities,
• The dominance of the medical model of disability,
• The failure to implement most provisions of the National Action Plan for the Convention’s Implementation (up to 2020).
“The recommendations outlined in the general provisions may seem abstract, but we need to apply them across all sectors. This means revising legislation, ensuring proper terminology is used at all levels—including in laws, professional fields, and even daily conversations. We must also reform disability classification and eliminate all traces of the medical model of disability, fully transitioning to a human rights-based approach,” Daineko stressed.
The detailed recommendations also include an article-by-article analysis of challenges and proposed solutions. The most critical concerns were raised regarding Article 11, which addresses situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies. The full text of the recommendations is available online.
Daineko also highlighted the importance of involving people with disabilities and their representative organizations in decision-making processes:
“To successfully implement the Committee’s recommendations, we need high-quality, disaggregated data. Sound policies, effective solutions, and meaningful progress monitoring all depend on reliable data,” she added.
Panel Discussion: Next Steps for Disability Rights in Ukraine
Following the presentation, a panel discussion was held among civil society representatives. Topics included:
• Social integration of people with disabilities,
• Accessibility of infrastructure and services,
• The transition from institutional care to independent living in communities.
The event was organized with the support of Disabled People’s Organizations Denmark (DPOD)