Decade of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
November 25, 2024, In the Lviv region, at the Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center of the National Committee for Sports of the Disabled of Ukraine, as part of the Camp for leaders of organizations of persons with disabilities - members and partners of the National Association of People with Disabilities on Advocacy of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Response, thematic spaces were held on the issues of guarantees for persons with disabilities in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the comments of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on the state policy of Ukraine in the field of the rights of this category of population.
The event, organized by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine (NAPWD) within the framework of the project «Strengthening the participation of people with disabilities and their representative organizations in the response in Ukraine» with the support of WHO, was dedicated to Decades of the rights of persons with disabilities, which will run from November 25 to December 4, 2024.
The main objectives of the Camp are: 1) to hold a number of thematic workshops; 2) to discuss the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on the combined second and third periodic reports of Ukraine on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as the current situation with the rights of this category of population in Ukraine; 3) to prepare proposals and recommendations for addressing the issues highlighted by the Committee in the Concluding Observations, as well as related issues, with a view to further preparing a Handbook for authorities and civil society organizations on their basis.
Today marks the beginning of important discussions and debates on the rights of people with disabilities, opportunities and challenges in their realization, and prospects for improving the situation.
The thematic spaces were opened with an opening speech by the Secretary General of NAIU Viktoriia Nazarenko:
«The Decade of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is not only an opportunity to emphasize the importance of equality, but also to outline a concrete action plan to overcome obstacles to equal and dignified life for people with disabilities in our society. Together we have the opportunity to change the system for the better. This is extremely necessary in the current military conditions,” said Victoria Nazarenko.
The program of the first day was intense: key aspects of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the context of guarantees for people in this category and requirements for the state; the mechanism of its implementation and reporting on the measures taken; the main provisions and calls of the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on the combined second and third periodic reports of Ukraine on the implementation of the Convention.
A cross-cutting issue was the involvement of people with disabilities, including through their representative organizations, in decision-making that directly or indirectly affects them. In this context, a seminar participant, the head of a regional organization, shared her experience:
«We often face the fact that state institutions do not take into account the needs of people with disabilities sufficiently. But it is thanks to such events that we are able to find solutions to our problems together,» she added.
Tomorrow we will continue discussions and debates.
