13 December 2007. Kyiv, Ukraine - On observance of the International Day of Disabled People and the month devoted to addressing problems of people with disabilities, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Francis M. O'Donnell and Head of the National Assembly of People with Disabilities (NAPD) Valeriy Suchkevych signed a Memorundum of Understanding. The parties agreed to cooperate in protecting rights of People with Disabilities (PWD), promoting their social inclusion, raising public awareness on the challenges of PWD and joining efforts in signing and ratification of the Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities in Ukraine.
Addressing the journalists UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Francis O'Donnell emphasized that nowadays the world community has to urgently address the social integration of people with special needs and shift community perception and attitude to persons with limited physical abilities, and those with visual or auditory disability. "Most of all, we must emphasize that persons with disabilities are in fact persons with capabilities, often extraordinary talents, and with a huge contribution to make to society. Not only do they have the right to fully participate in political, social, cultural and economic life, but to fail to help them to do so deprives society as a whole of their vital contribution, of deeper cultural achievement, and of greater economic progress. With the Assembly and other civil society organizations and the relative state authorities, we can make essential progress in Ukraine in ensuring full participation of persons with disabilities», he added.
On 13 December 2006, the UN General Assembly adopted the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. As of 30 November 2007, 118 countries signed the Convention and 67 signatories to the Optional Protocol, 12 countries ratified the Convention and 6 ratifications of the Optional Protocol. Unfortunately, Ukraine is not yet among the signatories of this document. "I hope that our partnership re-enforced by this Memorandum will hasten the process of ratification by Ukraine of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities. Ukraine deserves the fullest participation of this part of its population in its national life", said Mr. O'Donnell.
The NAPD Head, Member of the Parliament Valeriy Sushkevych emphasized importance of the Assembly cooperation with the UN system in Ukraine in substantial improvement of disabled people welfare. «European and world communities are gradually changing their attitude and implement a comprehensive approach ensuring protection of human rights, including rights of people with disabilities. And I'm sure this Memorundum will become a strong instrument in bringing positive experience and best practices from developed countries to ensure accessibility in Ukraine both for disabled and all citizens of Ukraine", he said.
During the press-conference the Convention on rights of persons with disabilities in Braille language was presented to the journalists. For the first time 100 sets (200 books) were published in Ukraine to be distributed to the information centers for blind people in all regions of Ukraine.
«The UN Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities has a broad format that covers all key areas of disabled people lives: social inclusion, access to information and professional education, special transport system and research, as well as awareness raising. And by implementing norms of this Convention, today the UN office in Ukraine is providing an opportunity for all blind people to familiarize with this important document, which, I am sure, Ukraine will recognize in the nearest future», stated Mr.Valeriy Suchkevich.
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Editor's Note:
Around 10 per cent of the world's population, or 650 million people, live with a disability. They are the world's largest minority. Eighty per cent of persons with disabilities live in developing countries, according to the UN Development Programme (UNDP). The World Bank estimates that 20 per cent of the world's poorest people have some kind of disability, and tend to be regarded in their own communities as the most disadvantaged. According to the official statistics, the number of People With Disabilities (PWD) in Ukraine is around 2.67 million people, which amounts to 5.2% of the overall population.
On 13 December 2006, the UN General Assembly adopted the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and it's open for signing since March 2007. Unfortunately, Ukraine is not yet among the signatories of this document. Although, some progress is observed in Ukraine on this issue: on November 16, 2007 the President of Ukraine issued an order to authorize Minister of Labour and Social Policy of Ukraine M.Papiev to sign the Convention on the Rights of the Perdons with Disabilities. On December 3, 3007 the All-Ukrainian meeting of the state authorities and public organizations working with disabled "Ukraine without Barriers" was conducted by the President of Ukraine Viktor Yuschenko devoted to the 25th International Day of Disabled People proclaimed by the UN General Assembly. This meeting was initiatied by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine and supported by the civil society organizations.
The Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities in Ukrainian and English is available at: http://www.un.org.ua/ua/disabilities/.
More information:
UN Department of Public Information: Veronika Vashchenko, tel. 044.253.9363, http://www.un.org.ua/.
National Assembly of the People with Disabilities of Ukraine: Natalia Grach, tel.044.289.4330, http://www.naiu.org.ua/.
13.12.07
