How can diplomatic staff make their daily work more inclusive and accessible? What should they consider when organising official meetings, communicating with people with disabilities or providing consular services?
To help answer these questions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, with expert support from Ms Tetiana Lomakina, Advisor-Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Barrier-Free Environment, and the Council of Europe, has prepared the second edition of the Methodological recommendations on implementing the principles of a barrier-free environment for the diplomatic service system of Ukraine.
What does this mean in practice?
The guidelines explain how diplomatic staff can use respectful and inclusive language when communicating with and referring to persons with disabilities, veterans, people affected by trauma and others who may face barriers or discrimination. They also provide recommendations on organising accessible official meetings and diplomatic events, improving access to consular services and digital information, and promoting inclusive working conditions within diplomatic institutions.
The recommendations are based on a human rights-based approach and emphasise that accessibility and inclusion should become an integral part of everyday diplomatic practice, rather than separate measures.
By applying these recommendations, Ukrainian diplomatic institutions can help remove barriers, improve the quality and accessibility of their services, and ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
The initiative contributes to the implementation of the National Strategy for the Creation of a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine until 2030 and promotes the principles of equality and non-discrimination enshrined in the European Social Charter (revised).
The National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine was developed at the initiative of First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska.
The Council of Europe Project "Strengthening the social dimension in Ukraine" is implemented by the Council of Europe within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” for 2023-2026. The Project aims to ensure that general public and people from vulnerable groups, including war-affected population in Ukraine, benefit from targeted social protection and support.
