Every Ukrainian should receive high-quality barrier-free services in their own community. They should feel and see that positive changes are taking place in every town and village. This was emphasised by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at the summary meeting of the Council for Barrier-Free Environment, attended by First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk.

“Accessibility is an urgent need for millions of Ukrainians today. For people of different ages, professions and social backgrounds. We are particularly focused on the needs of our defenders. It is our duty to remove all obstacles that hinder their adaptation, rehabilitation and self-fulfilment,” said Denys Shmyhal.

According to the Prime Minister, in 2023 the Government has made a lot of efforts to implement barrier-free projects. First of all, the Ministry of Digital Transformation introduced European standards for digital communication of government agencies. These are now being implemented in all public digital services.

In addition, the Ministry of Economy has launched a compensation programme for employers who have adapted a workplace for a person with a disability.

“Accessibility of military medical commissions. In addition to the electronic queue and the digitalisation of documents, the Government has allocated funds for measures to create a barrier-free environment. Accessibility in military medical commissions will be an inviolable rule everywhere, at all stages of the procedures,” the Prime Minister stressed.

“One can say ‘it is war, whatever you want. There are more obstacles: physical, with movement and accessibility, economic – with unemployment, and social – with a heavy burden on everyone in general’. But that is not an argument. Because every life is valuable. And its quality matters. We do not choose the times we live in, but we can choose to fight,” said Olena Zelenska.

“Together with the Government, the Ukrainian Parliament is ready to develop and support draft laws related to the formation of principles and norms of accessibility. For example, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is currently preparing bills on the employment of specialists with disabilities and on adult education for the second reading. They are defined as European integration bills and therefore have priority. But the most important thing is that the interests of people with disabilities are taken into account not only at the level of rule-making, but also at the level of implementation and enforcement of laws,” said Ruslan Stefanchuk.

Among other things, the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development is continuing to update state building codes to meet accessibility requirements. According to Denys Shmyhal, this year saw the adoption of standards for hospitals and shelters, as well as requirements for temporary structures: “This is just the beginning. All facilities will be rebuilt according to European standards of space arrangement.”

The Prime Minister also noted that the Ministry of Health continued to systematically introduce active, evidence-based rehabilitation step by step. The Ministry of Health is working on a draft law that will radically change the way a person goes from a hospital bed after an injury or wound to restoring their quality of life. This includes opportunities for decent work, quality education and systemic support.

Denys Shmyhal thanked First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska for her commitment and constant involvement in accessibility issues in Ukraine and abroad. He also thanked international partners and NGOs for their constructive dialogue and effective support.