On 28–29 January 2026, two online awareness-raising sessions were conducted for representatives of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (MoD), focusing on accessibility in the security and defense sector. The events brought together approximately 60 specialists from the following MoD structural units:
- Department for ensuring the creation of a barrier-free space;
- Support services for servicemen and their family members within the MoD system;
- Civil-military cooperation services of healthcare institutions under the MoD.
Participants are directly engaged in providing information, support, and assistance to servicemembers and veterans with disabilities, as well as in decision-making processes that influence their rehabilitation and reintegration.
The first part of the sessions addressed principles of respectful and appropriate communication with wounded servicepersons and those who have acquired disabilities and are undergoing rehabilitation in military medical facilities. It covered the concept of accessibility, the identification and mitigation of societal stereotypes, ethical interaction, and practical guidance on supporting individuals with different types of impairments.
The second part focused on the legal framework underpinning the protection of the human rights of military personnel, with particular attention to the rights of servicemen and veterans with disabilities. The expert presented an overview of relevant national legislation, recent legislative developments, and examples of their practical implementation. Special emphasis was placed on international standards for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, including key instruments of the Council of Europe relevant to servicemembers and veterans.
These information sessions complemented a more in-depth training programme for MoD representatives entitled “Inclusion in the Security and Defense Sector: Barrier-Free and Trauma-Sensitive Communication with Military Personnel and Veterans with Disabilities.” Three two-day trainings were delivered between August and October 2025, alongside the development of amendments to the Ministry’s Methodological Recommendations on Barrier-Free Space. Through these efforts, the Council of Europe supports the advancement of a comprehensive policy on military personnel with disabilities and strengthens the capacity of MoD staff to effectively implement the rights of this group in practice.
The sessions were organised within the framework of the Project “Rights of Veterans and Personnel of the Armed Forces in Ukraine,” implemented under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” (2023–2026).
