Ukraine without Barriers: All-Ukrainian Meeting Headed by the President of Ukraine to the International Day of Disabled People

3 December, 2007. Kyiv, Ukraine: On observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko headed the All-Ukrainian meeting of the state authorities and public organizations working with disabled "Ukraine without Barriers". During the opening ceremony President said that both Ukrainian society and State must make lots of efforts to ensure life without boundaries to disabled persons in our country.

President noted insufficiency of efforts being made by the authorities to execute President's decrees of 2005 on improving the life conditions of disabled persons.  President emphasized that the meeting is to result into basic protocol which would oblige all officials and authorities responsible for ensuring appropriate life to disabled people to resolve a number of issues during next 6 month. "Until July 1, 2008 intermediate report must be prepared on implementation of measures mentioned in both President's decrees and government's plan of additional measures regarding arraignment of auspicious living conditions for people with physical disabilities", - he said.

Addressing the participants, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Mr. Francis O'Donnell appreciated the latest President Decree on authorizing Ukraine's signing of the UN Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities. He emphasized that Ukraine's adherence to this Convention will open space to improve lives of people with disabilities in country and both them and the society will benefit of it. "On behalf of the UN system in Ukraine, we'll lend our full support to the Government and regional authorities as well as associations of disabled people to achieve it", he continued.

Mr. O'Donnell confirmed that all UN programmes in Ukraine will be reviewed to mainstream the problems of disabled people in particular, to ensure integration of people with disabilities to the society including creation of accessible environment for all people.  "We must open our hearts to understand problems of disabled. Persons with disabilities are people with capabilities but they can't contribute without removing barriers", he said.

Statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the International Day of Disabled People (http://www.un.org.ua/en/news/2007-11-30/)

Statement by President of Ukraine Viktor Yuschenko to the International Day of Disabled People

UN Convention on Rights of Disabled People: http://www.un.org.ua/en/disabilities/

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