Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
World Federation of the Deaf - WFD

Ukraine

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Ukraine Society of the Deaf, Central Board (USD CB), Ukraine
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Ukranian Government

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy in Ukraine is expressed in law, in guidelines adopted by the government and in guidelines adopted by a national disability council. According to the Government, disability policy is expressed in law, in orders of the President, in statements of the Parliament and in State programmes. The emphasis in this policy is on anti-discrimination law, rehabilitation, prevention, individual support and accessibility measures.

The government has not done anything to initiate or support information campaigns conveying the message of full participation. The Government states that it has supported such information campaigns.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by special legislation. There is no judicial mechanism available to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. The non-judicial mechanism for that purpose is a governmental body (administrative).

The answers pertain to the deaf only.
General legislation apply with respect to education, employment, access to court-of-law, the right to privacy and property rights. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training, rehabilitation and counselling, financial security, employment, independent living and participation in decisions affecting themselves.

No new legislation concerning disability has been enacted since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are no rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment. The only measure promoted to facilitate accessibility in the built environment is the provision of specially adapted motor vehicles. However, measures to facilitate accessibility are taken only when developing special projects for disabled, including housing. Persons with disabilities have the right to use transport free of charge. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are economic/budgetary factors, lack of planning and design-capacity and lack of enforcement mechanism. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language for deaf people is not recognized as the official language of deaf people, and is not used as the first language in education of deaf people. It is, however, recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. There are government measures to encourage media to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities. There are no measures to encourage other forms of public information to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities. The following services are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others: literature in Braille and sign language interpretation being available for any purpose.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

The interests of Ukraine deaf persons and of deaf regional organizations are protected by the Ukrainian society of the Deaf, with the status of a nation-wide deaf organization. There are no legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making or to work with governmental institutions. Organizations of persons with disabilities are often consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at the national, regional, and local level. The government financially supports existing or new organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to some extent in NGOs. They do not participate at all in government, legislatures, judicial authorities or political parties. The role of organisations of persons with disabilities is to advocate rights and improved services, mobilize persons with disabilities and identify needs and priorities.

Co-ordination of work

The national co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Vice-Prime-Minister. The committee includes representatives of many ministries and of organizations of persons with disabilities. The co-ordinating committee is expected to participate in policy development but not to perform other tasks. The establishment of the co-ordinating committee has led to improved co-ordination of measures/programmes.

The adoption of the Rules has led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy.

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Contents of the WFD Report | Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Ukranian Government