GENEVA - In Geneva, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which has completed its consideration of a report by Ukraine, praised the State's efforts to protect people with disabilities during the war and also raised the issue of children, including children with disabilities, who have been forcibly transferred to Russian-controlled territories.
The war has led to an increase in the number of people with disabilities
Irina Postolovskaya, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Social Policy for European Integration and head of the delegation that presented the report, said the large-scale Russian invasion had led to an increase in the number of people with disabilities. Today, 2.8 million people with disabilities live in Ukraine, but this number is constantly increasing due to military operations.
Protecting the rights of people with disabilities during the war and ensuring their integration into society is of paramount importance for Ukraine, she stressed.
Postolovskaya noted that the devastating consequences of the large-scale Russian invasion have affected many areas of life in Ukraine. Despite this, the Government was able to provide social services to all vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities.
Children separated from their families
Committee Expert Amalia Gamio explained that the main issues of concern to human rights activists concern children with disabilities who have faced the consequences of armed conflict and have been separated from their families. In particular, Committee members had received information on the forced transportation of children, including children with disabilities, from the territory of Ukraine to Russian-controlled territory.
The Ukrainian delegation said that the Government was working with its partners, including the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), to facilitate the return of children to areas under Ukrainian control. The Government had launched the "Return the Children" initiative to facilitate their return. A range of services were provided to returning children, including psychological support, social services and education.
Fight against institutionalisation
In the light of the Ukrainian authorities' declaration that they favoured deinstitutionalization, Gamio asked the delegation about the measures taken in this area, and in particular about the construction of new institutions for children with disabilities.
The delegation stated that deinstitutionalization remained a priority for the Government. A coordination centre had been established to ensure the development of family-based care for children, including children with disabilities. The Centre had established a regional council to ensure a coordinated approach to deinstitutionalization, including the avoidance of new institutions.
The Ukrainian authorities have advised their development partners that investment funds should not go to institutional care facilities, but should instead be used to develop public services to support children with disabilities.
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