The European Commission remains focused on ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities in Ukraine throughout the next steps of the European integration process
The European Commission published a Report within the framework of the European Union Enlargement Package 2025. The document contains assessments of progress in implementing necessary reforms.
The issue of ensuring rights of people with disabilities is one of the three fundamental priorities in the field of human rights. It emphasizes the urgency for Ukraine to advance relevant reforms effectively.
The European Commission emphasized in the Report: “In the coming year, Ukraine should, in particular, continue developing an inclusive environment for persons with disabilities, including by advancing on de-institutionalisation and, in line with the Ukraine Plan, adopting the legislation on the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.” (p.7).
The Report also emphasizes the need for:
- complete alignment of Ukraine’s legal framework on the rights of people with disabilities with the EU acquis, in particular with the provisions of the European Accessibility Act (EAA);
- strengthening efforts in the area of inclusive reconstruction;
- implementing the Strategy of reform of psycho-neurological and other institutions and deinstitutionalisation of care for adults with disabilities and elderly until 2034 and adopted an operational plan for its implementation for 2025-2027 (hereinafter referred to as the Deinstitutionalization Strategy);
- Increasing efforts on public services in general as well as support for the legal means for persons with disabilities to claim their rights.
- ensuring evacuation and accessible facilities and housing for displaced elderly and persons with disabilities.
- Further strengthening measures to ensure access to employment for people with disabilities (pp. 47–48, 82).
In Brussels, a Fight For Right delegation led by the head of the organization, Yuliia Sachuk, held meetings with the Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood Policy (DG ENEST), which is responsible for preparing the Report. We discussed the progress of Ukraine in ensuring the rights of people with disabilities in the context of European integration, including necessary reforms, such as deinstitutionalization.
Representatives of the European Commission emphasized the need to continue implementing the Deinstitutionalization Strategy. From our side, Fight For Right noted that a dedicated coordinating body under the Cabinet of Ministers to ensure coherent action on deinstitutionalisation has not yet been established, and that the definition of “institutions” has still not been legally harmonised, which indicates a critical gap in legal regulation and control.
Also, Fight For Right held productive meetings with representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers (DG JUST) and the European External Action Service (EEAS).
Fight For Right is ready to provide relevant ministries of the Government of Ukraine with proposals to address the issues outlined by the European Commission and to support reforms in the field of human rights of people with disabilities.
This advocacy activity was organized with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation as part of project “Creating the preconditions for an independent and dignified life for all” and in partnership with the “Whole-of-Society Accession” project. Content of this publication is the exclusive responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation.
