Quality Services and Equal Employment Opportunities: Ukraine at the UN Conference on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Ukraine participated in the 18th session of the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, held at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The delegation, which included Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Volodymyr Vasylenko, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Andrii Melnyk, and Head of the International Cooperation and Protocol Department of the Ministry of Social Policy Roman Voloshyn, took part in the general discussion on the implementation of the UN Convention. They presented Ukraine’s achievements in supporting persons with disabilities, including: a transformed approach to employment for persons with disabilities; development of rehabilitation centers; digitalization of social services; a state program for free prosthetics and provision of other rehabilitation aids.

During the main session, the Ukrainian delegation participated in roundtables on: ensuring the rights of indigenous persons with disabilities; using artificial intelligence to improve inclusion; expanding opportunities for persons with disabilities through innovative financing, which enables tailored support based on individual needs, develops new forms of social services with private sector involvement, and shifts from institutional care to investing in independence.

Ukraine also presented a few initiatives. First was the “specially equipped vehicles” for transporting people and children with mobility impairments, with plans for over 1,300 Ukrainian communities to have such transport by 2028, ensuring basic freedom of movement. The second initiative was the “compensation for vehicle modifications” to enable persons with disabilities to drive, promoting social integration and independence.

"The Ministry of Social Policy is enhancing innovative financing to provide more effective, flexible, and results-driven support tailored to individual needs. We are transitioning from an assistance model to an investment model – from meeting needs to ensuring equal rights and opportunities, from dependency to independence in daily life. This fully aligns with the UN Convention," said Deputy Minister Volodymyr Vasylenko.

The conference also featured bilateral meetings with delegations from Germany, Lithuania, and India, focusing on: rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities; provision of prosthetics and rehabilitation aids; deinstitutionalization and supported living services.

Ukraine expressed gratitude to international partners for supporting systemic changes in disability inclusion and ensuring equal access to quality services, education, employment, and dignified living.

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