Address by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Fellow compatriots!

Every year on December 3 we celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities which was proclaimed by the United States General Assembly in 1992 to celebrate the achievements of people with disabilities around the world, to draw attention of the society to the problems of more than 1  people, and to ensure social integration, inclusion, attraction of persons with disabilities to social and public life.

The theme for this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities is “Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality” places a special emphasis on the importance of removing public barriers that impede the realization of opportunities for people with disabilities and their families. Enhancing opportunities involves investing in people - jobs, education, health, nutrition and social protection. Investing in a person is an overriding task of the Government to protect the interests of people with disabilities.

During 2018, the Government has been carrying out work  to ensure equality and non-discrimination of persons with disabilities, ensuring equal access to the physical environment, infrastructure, information, communication, as well as the right to access to justice and legal assistance, freedom and personal integrity. Considerable attention is paid to reforming the system of education and rehabilitation, employment, education, and health care.

There was introduced an enhanced monitoring for reasonable accommodation of architectural objects and services. Denial of reasonable accommodation is recognized as one of the types of discrimination. The procedure for the provision of certain categories of population with technical and other means of rehabilitation has been improved, the possibility of providing compensation for rehabilitation equipment which was purchased by own resources.

On behalf of the Government, I call on all Ukrainians to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Not only today but throughout the year, we must work daily to create a diverse but inclusive society.

I wish all people with disabilities self-realization, inspiration, and new achievements!

Sincerely

Prime Minister of Ukraine                                                           Volodymyr GROYSMAN