Civil society organisations working in the field of disability rights and barrier-free accessibility and JSC Ukrzaliznytsia signed a memorandum of cooperation. The declared intentions include joining forces to create an accessible environment for all passengers. Among the signatories of the memorandum is the League of the Strong public union. This was announced by Denys Savchenko, project manager of the union.
“Through this memorandum, we want to officially confirm our joint intention to improve the infrastructure and services of Ukrzaliznytsia, making them more inclusive and accessible. After the full-scale invasion, passenger rail transport has become critical for the safety of citizens, including the increasing number of people with disabilities. As part of our cooperation, we will jointly develop the most effective solutions to ensure that people with disabilities and other low-mobility categories of citizens can move freely across Ukraine,” said Denys Savchenko.
Thus, NGOs will be involved in conducting inspections of railway infrastructure, providing advice on barrier-free accessibility, working together to improve legislation in this area, and conducting training for Ukrzaliznytsia employees.
“We are paving the way for systemic solutions in the area of barrier-free accessibility, and we also hear the needs of everyone we interact with and understand the importance of an individual approach. That is why we are uniting today to see people, not the norm. The railway has approved a policy of changes, and I am confident that our team, together with the public, will be able to cope with this difficult task,” said Yevhen Liashchenko, Chairman of the Board of JSC Ukrzaliznytsia.
As a reminder, the League of the Strong has recently launched the Centre of Expertise on the Rights of People with Disabilities. The Centre’s activities are aimed at including the interests of people with disabilities in Ukraine’s recovery programmes. The Centre will provide expert advice to stakeholders in the recovery process and advocate for the inclusion of the standards of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Recovery Plan of Ukraine.