During a visit to France, Deputy Minister of Social Policy Iryna Postolovska held a bilateral meeting with French Minister of Labour, Health, Solidarity and Family Catherine Vautrin, during which the parties signed a Declaration of Intent on cooperation in the field of social protection between the two countries. The document lays the foundation for partnership in the development and implementation of key social services for people with disabilities and families with children.

According to the EU Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for 2021-2030, the two sides plan to cooperate in the following areas:

- Supporting a system of early detection and intervention for children under 3 years of age to correct development at early stages;

- establishing mechanisms for comprehensive assessment of the needs of persons with disabilities to facilitate their social integration;

- support in ensuring access to the labour market for persons with disabilities, including workplace adaptation and the implementation of employment programmes.

In the context of supporting Ukraine in implementing its Strategy to Ensure the Right of Every Child in Ukraine to Grow Up in a Family Environment, the parties plan to take the following steps:

- develop alternative forms of upbringing and preinstitutional care that will allow children to grow up in a family environment;

- expand the network of social services to support children and their parents;

- support social workers in the transition from institutional care to supporting children in the family environment.

Cooperation between Ukraine and France in this context also involves the introduction of modern methods and tools for the provision of social services, as well as training and professional development of social workers to improve their professional skills.

The cooperation will help harmonise Ukraine's social protection system with European standards and ensure its stability in times of war.

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