Ministry for Communities and Territories Development presents mechanisms for introducing European accessibility standards in Ukraine
A working meeting was held to develop solutions in the field of accessibility based on European practices. The meeting was devoted to the results of the Ukrainian delegation's exchange of experience, during which they studied models of accessibility management at the state and municipal levels in the Austrian capital, Vienna. Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development Natalia Kozlovska spoke about possible implementation mechanisms and available Ukrainian solutions.
The meeting was attended by First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, Advisor, Presidential Commissioner for Barrier-Free Environment Tetiana Lomakina, representatives of the Government and local authorities.
"We are keeping the issue of accessibility in focus — it is something that cannot be postponed. To put it off means to put off life, to put off the fight for human rights in the broadest sense of the word. Participants in the Vienna programme shared specific proposals that they had developed after the visit, both at the community level, taking into account local specifics and challenges, and at the level of public policy. I hope that the experience of our European colleagues will help to systematise approaches and accelerate the implementation of accessibility solutions at the local level," emphasised Olena Zelenska.
The main topics of the meeting were monitoring in the field of accessibility, the development of approaches to active ageing and supported living, labour market reform and career guidance programmes, and the expansion of a services package for young people.
Deputy Minister Nataliia Kozlovska noted that Ukraine is consistently implementing best international practices as part of its National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment. One important example is the expertise of Vienna, a European leader in systemic physical accessibility focused on the real needs of people.
"An effective barrier-free policy is based not only on building standards, but above all on clearly defined responsibilities integrated into the management system and constant monitoring at all stages, from planning to operation. The first key step in implementing Vienna's experience in Ukraine is to institutionalise responsibility at the local level. The findings from studying the Austrian model have been integrated into the draft Law of Ukraine "On the Basic Principles of State Policy for the Formation of a Barrier-Free Society in Ukraine," which has already been developed by an interdepartmental working group," said Natalia Kozlovska.
The participants focused on the model of an accessibility commissioner — an official who works within a local government body or municipal enterprise and is part of the management team, rather than an external controller. This approach allows accessibility issues to be taken into account at the decision-making stage, rather than afterwards. In Ukraine, the implementation of a similar model involves appointing a person responsible for accessibility among the community's leadership, such as a deputy chair or advisor. Today, such a model has already been implemented, for example, in Lviv. These responsible persons will ensure coordination in all six areas of accessibility, constant supervision and consultation, which requires not only procedural responsibility, but also professionalism and understanding of the philosophy of accessibility as a basic principle of local governance.