A Ukrainian delegation has started its official visit to Paris. The delegation includes Tetiana Lomakina, Presidential Commissioner for Barrier-Free Environment, and representatives of the ministries implementing the National Strategy for Barrier-Free Environment: Nataliia Kozlovska, Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, Uliana Tokareva, Deputy Minister of Social Policy, and Yevheniia Smirnova, Deputy Minister of Education and Science.

The French experience in creating barrier-free environments will also be studied by city and village heads from Poltava, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Bucha, Rivne, Slavutych, and representatives of partner organisations for barrier-free environment.

During the trip, the Ukrainian delegation will learn about the best practices of creating inclusive spaces, including how public places are built, what conditions are created for the employment of people with limited mobility, and how services are provided.

The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, is helping the Ukrainian delegation to learn about the roadmap for inclusiveness based on the transformation of the French capital, which has been undergoing change for almost 20 years since 2005.

Creating barrier-free spaces and services is not only an important requirement of the European integration process. For local authorities, it is a priority in community development. In the context of war and post-war reconstruction, adapting environments to the requirements of barrier-free and inclusive accessibility is a vital necessity. It is also one of the most important components for supporting society during the war.

International support and cooperation between territorial communities, as well as the implementation of joint projects in the future, create the conditions for more effective barrier-free solutions that will affect the lives of Ukrainians in different parts of the country.

The exchange of experience between the cities was initiated by First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska at the invitation of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. Coordination support is provided by the Embassy of Ukraine in France and UNDP in Ukraine with financial support from the governments of France and Sweden.