The Council of Europe Project “Promoting Social Human Rights as a Key Factor of Sustainable Democracy in Ukraine”, has started the international needs assessment mission with respect to policy and legal framework revision in the area of rights of people with disabilities.
In the framework of the mission held from 10th to 15th of February, the expert team comprising of Monika Smusz-Kulesza, Council of Europe international consultant, Maksym Shcherbatiuk and Bogdan Mojsa, Council of Europe local consultants and Siuzanna Mnatsakanian, Council of Europe Senior Project Officer, has conducted working meetings in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Lviv.
Social rights are core European values enshrined in a number of formal commitments undertaken by the Council of Europe member States, including Ukraine. Respect for and the promotion of social rights including the rights of people with disabilities is essential in attaining sustainable democracy in Ukraine. More than 2.5 million persons with disabilities in Ukraine, including 159 000 children are facing everyday challenges and limitation of their rights. The state is obliged to provide the necessary support and create equal conditions of access to provide for the needs of people with disabilities. Therefore, in the framework of the mission the expert team has met with representatives of the public authorities, non-governmental organisations, local communities and other beneficiaries to highlight the current issues and develop recommendations for changes in legislation and in practice.
The main topics for discussion with the representatives of the public authorities were the priorities of the Government in the sphere of ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities in light of the decentralisation, medical and education reforms, employment issues, international classification of functioning, deinstitutionalisation, social services, inclusive education etc. These and other issues were raised at a numerous meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Social Policy, the Parliamentary Committee on Social Policy and Rights of Veterans, the Ombudsperson’s Office, the Office of the Government Gener Policy Envoy, the Commissioner for Rights of People with Disabilities and others.
