First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska took part in the National Forum on the Rights of People with Disabilities held in Kyiv on December 2-3.
“This event has great value because it brings together civil society activists, government officials, and international partners. This is how we should talk and act. Only together. When the full-scale invasion began, our country's priority was to survive. But almost immediately it became clear that “survival” meant not only being physically intact, but also not stopping development,” the President's wife said.
The forum brought together more than 200 participants, including representatives of public and international organizations, local authorities and the business community.
The main outcome of the event was the development of the “Agenda for 2025” by the community of people with disabilities. This is a strategic document that identifies priority areas of work to protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
The document outlines eight steps:
● Ensuring the transition to a human rights-based model of disability and the full implementation of a functional, disability, and health assessment system for both civilians and military personnel.
● Initiating the reform of deinstitutionalizing services for adults with disabilities and older persons.
● Committing to start the reform of current legal capacity legislation and introducing decision-support tools.
● Guaranteeing the right to work for all persons with disabilities in the open labor market.
● Involving the community of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes, at all levels, regarding their safety during wars, disasters, and other emergencies.
● Ensuring access to architecturally accessible housing for IDPs with disabilities.
● Continuing the reform of social services based on international human rights standards.
● Realizing the right to participate in the country's political life: to vote freely and have all the means to run for office.
“One of the conditions of European integration is deinstitutionalization. Behind this reserved term is a human, absolutely fundamental demand for humanity. Not to keep people in isolation. We cannot allow our defenders, our warriors, to end up in institutional care facilities after being wounded. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the fact that adults with disabilities live behind fences,” Olena Zelenska emphasized.
The President's wife also highlighted the Cabinet of Ministers' decision to start funding supported living services for older people and persons with disabilities among IDPs. She called on communities to submit applications for the services to the Fund for Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities.
The National Forum on the Rights of People with Disabilities was organized by the League of the Strong NGO together with the Fight For Right NGO with the support of international partners.
