Promoting the rights of persons with disabilities through the development of inclusive laws and policies

Due to the hostilities and the occupation of the territories of Ukraine, the NAPD focused its project activities on supporting NGOs of people with disabilities. More than 50 meetings were organized, 128 regulatory acts were drafted, and amendments were made to laws on mobilization, border crossing, and social services.

Proposals were prepared on accessibility of infrastructure, reform of the MSEC, and integration of disability issues into national policy. A hotline provided over 400 consultations, and advocacy activities were conducted to strengthen the rights of persons with disabilities.

The main issues that people sought legal assistance with were related to the following topics: registration of IDP status;  registration or extension of disability; the procedure for traveling abroad by persons with disabilities and persons accompanying them; timely receipt of social benefits, pensions, and scholarships; registration of housing subsidies; the procedure for obtaining PPE or compensation for their independent purchase;  grounds for postponement and discharge from military service.

People with disabilities of various nosologies (people with visual/hearing/ musculoskeletal disorders, people with mental illnesses, parents of children with disabilities) sought legal advice. Legal consultations were provided both by phone and in writing; both to those who stayed in Ukraine and those who went abroad. The number of applications for legal aid was constantly increasing. This demonstrates the relevance of the hotline and the high quality of legal advice.  

DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD, THE FOLLOWING EVENTS WERE ORGANIZED AND HELD WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE PROJECT: 

April 4, 2022. meeting щon the rights of persons with disabilities during martial law and the activities of their organizations in this area (evacuation, provision of medicines, medical services, food (specialized and basic), provision of technical means of rehabilitation, registration of the extension of the disability group, crossing the border by men
 people with disabilities and their accompanying persons, etc.)

April 12, 2022. meeting on the needs of persons with disabilities and humanitarian assistance (with the participation of international partners)

The first two meetings on the Zoom platform were held without registration. 

27.04.2022р. "Meeting Ukraine-Germany" (online on the Zoom platform). The event was held to discuss the problems faced by Ukrainians with disabilities who fled to Germany to escape the war. The information was exchanged with representatives of the German Institute for Human Rights, NetzwerkBüro Frauen und Mädchen mit Behinderung / chronischer Erkrankung NRW, the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia (MAGS NRW), and the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine. The meeting was attended by the Government Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and 30 people from different regions of Ukraine. As a result of the meeting, German colleagues prepared answers to the most pressing issues that were raised. 

04.05.2022р. Information meeting "Participation of NGOs in the evacuation of persons with disabilities in Ukraine" (online on the Zoom platform).  The purpose of the event was to share the experience of NGOs in evacuating people with disabilities in Ukraine and Israel. Discussion of the problems faced by CSOs in the evacuation of people with severe disabilities, in particular, ensuring horizontal evacuation. The importance of cooperation in evacuation and preparation for evacuation; ensuring interaction and accessibility at border crossings; assistance with specialized vehicles; the importance of sequencing actions during evacuation. The information session was attended by more than 40 people from different regions of Ukraine (people with disabilities, representatives of NGOs, representatives of Access Israel - Purple Vest). 

19.05.2022 р.  Information session "State and international financial assistance to persons with disabilities affected by war" (online on the Zoom platform). The purpose of the event was Raising awareness of public organizations of persons with disabilities and persons with disabilities themselves about certain types of assistance (established by the legislation of Ukraine / provided by international organizations) for internally displaced persons, as well as persons with disabilities. The information session was attended by over 50 people from different regions of Ukraine (persons with disabilities, representatives of NGOs, and the Fund for Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities of Ukraine). Issues raised during the event:  Assistance to IDPs (who is eligible for it, the procedure for obtaining and issuing a certificate of registration as an IDP); Types of state aid for IDPs with disabilities and how to obtain it; International organizations that currently provide assistance to affected persons with disabilities in Ukraine; Algorithm of actions for applying for/receiving assistance from international organizations; Can people with disabilities without IDP status also receive assistance and what is required for this? It is important that the information received by the leaders of the NAIU member NGOs during the session has been communicated to many people with disabilities, and many of them have taken advantage of this information. In June, the NAIU (as part of another project) conducted a survey of 1,000 people with disabilities to determine whether such assistance was available to them and whether they took advantage of these opportunities..

25.05.2022 р. Information meeting "Interaction of state and public organizations of persons with disabilities in the conditions of war" (online on the Zoom platform). The purpose of the event was to study interaction between civil society and governmental organizations on the example of their own experience in the context of military operations, as well as raising awareness of CSOs and people with disabilities about changes in legislation in the field of social protection of persons with disabilities. The information session was attended by the Government Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Tetiana Barantsova, State Expert of the Directorate for Social Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine - Roman Pylypenko, as well as more than 35 people from different regions of Ukraine (persons with disabilities, representatives of NGOs).The event also touched upon important issues of protection of persons with disabilities who have traveled abroad and evacuation of persons with severe disabilities. 

01.06.2022 р. Meeting of NAIU members to discuss the current state of the  (online on the Zoom platform).  The event was held to discuss the current situation in the regions, as well as the role of NGOs in helping people with disabilities during the war. The information session was attended by more than 25 people from different regions of Ukraine (people with disabilities, representatives of NGOs).

15.06.2022 р.  Іnformational meeting of managers and leaders of the public movement of people with disabilities (online on the Zoom platform).  The purpose of the event was to Raising awareness of persons with disabilities and their associations about legislative changes in the field of social protection and events at both the national and international levels that will take place in June 2022. The information session was attended by more than 35 people, including representatives of public organizations of persons with disabilities and persons with disabilities from different regions of Ukraine.

12.07.2022 р.  "Meeting NAPD: Reclaiming Our Futures Alliance - ROFA/ Meeting of the NAIU Alliance "Reclaiming Our Future" - ROFA, UK" (online on the Zoom platform). The event was held with the aim of raising awareness of the heads and leaders of public organizations of disabled people about the work of NGOs in the UK; exchange of information on the activities of NGOs in helping people with disabilities. The meeting was attended by more than 50 people from different regions of Ukraine  As a result of the meeting, colleagues from the UK prepared answers to the most pressing questions that were voiced.

13.07.2022 р. Working meeting of managers and leaders of the public movement of people with disabilities (online on the Zoom platform).  The purpose of the event was to raise awareness of the heads and leaders of public organizations of persons with disabilities about the latest changes at the national level in the field of social protection of persons with disabilities; exchange of information on the activities of NGOs to help people with disabilities as a result of the Russian invasion at the local level. The working meeting was attended by 30 people from different regions of Ukraine (persons with disabilities, representatives of civil society organizations).

27.07.2022 р. Meeting of leaders of the public movement of people with disabilities(online on the Zoom platform). The purpose of the event was raising awareness of the heads and leaders of public organizations of persons with disabilities about the latest changes at the national and international level in the field of social protection of persons with disabilities; exchange of information on the activities of CSOs to help people with disabilities as a result of the Russian invasion at the local level. The event was attended by more than 45 people from different regions of Ukraine (persons with disabilities, representatives of public organizations, the Fund for Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities of Ukraine).

03.08.2022 р. Meeting of leaders of the public movement of people with disabilities(online on the Zoom platform). The event was held to inform the heads and leaders of public organizations of persons with disabilities about the latest changes at the national and international level in the field of social protection of persons with disabilities; exchange of information on the activities of NGOs to help people with disabilities as a result of the Russian invasion at the local level. The event was attended by 50 people from different regions of Ukraine (persons with disabilities, representatives of civil society organizations).

10.08.2022 р. Meeting of leaders of the public movement of people with disabilities(online on the Zoom platform). The purpose of the event was to raise awareness of the heads and leaders of public organizations of persons with disabilities about the latest changes at the national and international level in the field of social protection of persons with disabilities; exchange of information on the activities of NGOs to help people with disabilities as a result of the Russian invasion at the local level. The event was attended by 70 people from different regions of Ukraine (representatives of the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine, representatives of regional departments of the Fund for Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities, representatives of NGOs, persons with disabilities).

17.08.2022 р Meeting of leaders of the public movement of people with disabilities 
 (online on the Zoom platform). The purpose of the event was Raising awareness of the heads and leaders of public organizations of persons with disabilities on the latest changes at the national and international level in the field of social protection of persons with disabilities; raising awareness of changes in legislation regarding the obtaining of IDP status (including by persons with disabilities); exchange of information on the activities of NGOs to help people with disabilities as a result of the Russian invasion at the local level. The event was attended by 40 people from different regions of Ukraine (representatives of civil society organizations, people with disabilities).

08.12.2022 р. Meeting of leaders of public organizations of persons with disabilities
 (online on the Zoom platform).The event was held with the aim of raising awareness of managers and leaders of public organizations of persons with disabilities on the latest developments at the national and international level in the field of social protection of persons with disabilities; in particular, discussing the issue of raising awareness of changes in legislation on ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities to work and employment. The meeting was attended by more than 30 people. In addition to representatives of NGOs, the event was attended by representatives of the Government Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  

January 4, 2023. Information meeting "State social assistance 2023" (online on the Zoom platform). The event was held to raise awareness of public organizations of people with disabilities and people with disabilities themselves about changes in Ukrainian legislation concerning certain types of social assistance, including for people with disabilities. Participation The meeting was attended by more than 45 people. 

February 8, 2023  Information meeting with leaders of public organizations of people with disabilities (online on the Zoom platform). The purpose of this meeting was to raise awareness of representatives of public organizations of people with disabilities from different regions of Ukraine about the latest changes in Ukrainian legislation concerning both the rights of people with disabilities and the activities of these organizations. Participation 35 people attended the meeting.

From March 7 to 10, 2023, EDF Executive Director Catherine Knighton and CMC Project Coordinator Heimo Dutle are conducting a monitoring visit to Ukraine, where they are meeting with partner organizations, international organizations, state authorities, local governments and individual activists of the movement of people with disabilities. The main purpose of the visit is not only to monitor the progress of the program, but also to form a general understanding of the situation, current challenges and further steps to respond to them as part of the planned next phase of long-term support.

As part of their visit March 9 2023 р. took place scheduled meeting with representatives of the NAPD Secretariat, representatives of the Vinnytsia Military Administration, the Regional Coordinator of the project "Promoting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities through the Development of Inclusive Laws and Policies" in Vinnytsia Oblast, and a representative of the NAPD in Vinnytsia Oblast. The meeting was held to learn more about the situation in boarding schools, short-term and long-term temporary residence centers, and to communicate with parents of children with disabilities in Vinnytsia region. 

March 28, 2023.  Information a meeting to discuss the situation with regard to the consequences of reforms in the socialo-legal area (following the adoption of Law 2620 and consideration of draft laws 5344-d and 5344-4 in the Parliament) (online on the Zoom platform). The event was held to raise awareness of public organizations of people with disabilities and people with disabilities themselves about amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Compulsory State Social Insurance", the Law of Ukraine "On Compulsory State Pension Insurance", as well as some laws of Ukraine on ensuring the rights of people with disabilities to work. The meeting was attended by more than 130 people. In addition to the leaders of NGOs and people with disabilities, there were MPs, representatives of the Government Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and city councils.

April 26, 2023. Meeting of leaders of public organizations of persons with disabilities - members and partners of NAPD (online on the Zoom platform). The event was held to raise awareness of managers and leaders of public organizations of persons with disabilities about the latest developments at the national and international level in the field of social protection of persons with disabilities; in particular, the Government's adoption of the Action Plan for the implementation of the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Space in Ukraine for the period up to 2030. The meeting was attended by 25 people. 

June 7, 2023. Meeting of leaders of public organizations of persons with disabilities - members and partners of NAPD (online on the Zoom platform). The event was held to raise awareness of managers and leaders of public organizations of persons with disabilities about the importance of participation of organizations of persons with disabilities in policy and legislative processes at both the national and international levels; recent changes in Ukrainian legislation and the role of CSOs in the adoption of legislative acts. The meeting was attended by 39 people.

In August and September 2023, the NAIU, in cooperation with the NGO "Coalition for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities", held Distance learning course "Self-advocates with intellectual disabilities - for the right to vote". Five ZOOM classes were held on the following topics: 1. Human rights and their protection. 2. Ukrainian laws on human rights. 3. What are elections, the importance of elections for everyone. 4. The right to vote. 5. How to protect your right to vote. The classes were conducted in plain language, which has recently been legalized in Ukraine (since June of this year). Thanks to the corrected mistakes in the translation of Articles 2 and 9 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. After each lesson, participants wrote and distributed Facebook posts*dedicated to the rights of people with intellectual disabilities, including the right to vote. Incentive bonuses will be sent to the authors of the best publications - T-shirts, caps and water bottles. A total of 34 people took part in the training course.

*Пhe course participants posted on Facebook with the help of assistants. However, people with intellectual disabilities often do not have their own pages on social media, and even more often they do not have modern gadgets with Internet access. Therefore, the finished publications were sent to the NGO "Coalition for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities", and they posted them on the page of the Coalition NGO. 

On September 12-13, 2023, the Forum "Inclusion and participation: people Persons with Disabilities at the Center of Humanitarian Response Policy in Wartime". The event was organized by
 in a mixed format (Rus Hotel, Kyiv and on the ZOOM platform). The main goal of the event was to bring together representatives of organizations of people with disabilities from different regions of Ukraine, representatives of international organizations, clusters, and UN agencies to: discuss the role and importance of organizations of people with disabilities in humanitarian response projects over the 1.5 years since the beginning of the war; share experiences and discuss the main challenges in humanitarian response for people with disabilities and older people; and develop consolidated recommendations for integrating disability issues into the Humanitarian Response Plan for 2024. The forum brought together more than 200 representatives international institutions, UN Agencies, clusters, government agencies, as well as representatives of organizations of people with disabilities, activists representing the interests of people with various disabilities, parents raising children with disabilities, older people, civilians and military personnel who have suffered and acquired disabilities from different regions of Ukraine. This was the first advocacy event on the issue of including civil society organizations in humanitarian response policy.. As a result of the Forum, the following were formed generalized recommendations for clusters, government agencies, as well as representatives of organizations of people with disabilities, activists representing the interests of people with various disabilities.

On September 19, 2023, theь Meeting of regional coordinators of the IFES project and regional representatives of NAIU (online on the Zoom platform). The meeting was held to discuss the results of the forum "Inclusion and participation: people with disabilities at the center of humanitarian response policy in time of war" with the aim of formulating Recommendations for the Humanitarian Response Plan for 2024. The meeting was attended by 15 participants.

During the second half of September, the NAIU in cooperation with the All-Ukrainian League of Organizations of Persons with Visual Impairments "Modern View" held Series online-webinars Implementation of legal and policy changes related to the rehabilitation of persons with visual impairment. Advocating for the rehabilitation of civilians and the military, people who lost their sight as a result of the war, their family members and people with visual impairments. Four online webinars were held. The main purpose of these webinars was to draw the attention of the public and authorities to the problem of providing and receiving social rehabilitation services and information support for people with visual impairment, and to involve NGOs working in this area in advocacy. A total of 115 people took part in the webinar series. 

On September 22, 2023, NAIU in cooperation with the Public Union "All-Ukrainian League of Organizations of Persons with Visual Impairments "Modern View" held a Online-a webinar on interaction and inclusion of organizations of people with disabilities in the implementation of national legislation at the regional level of Kyiv region and the city of Kyiv. The main goal of the event was to promote cooperation between the government and NGOs, initiative and volunteer groups in shaping democratic values in society. Among those present were leaders of public organizations of people with disabilities, representatives of local communities and social service centers. In total, 43 people took part in the event.

On September 27, 2023, NAIU in cooperation with the Public Union "All-Ukrainian League of Organizations of Persons with Visual Impairments "Modern View" held a Online-Conference "Strengthening the CSI with human resources and approval of strategies and policies of the organization's activities in the current conditions and in cooperation with the state and NGO". The main goal of the event is to strengthen public organizations of people with disabilities with resources, tools for development and active work, to implement European and world practices of strategic planning of their activities. In total, 68 participants took part in the event.