On 2 December 2019, the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine and the Council of Europe Project “Promoting Social Human Rights as a Key Factor of Sustainable Democracy in Ukraine” organised a Forum “Open Space” ahead of the International Day of People with Disabilities. About 120 participants of state institutions including Ministry of Digital Transformation, Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, Ministry of Infrastructure, Ministry of Education and Science, civil society, academia and experts have joined the event. The following topics were discussed during the Forum:
- Accessibility and Social Services
- Employment and Development of Social Entrepreneurship
- Education, Culture and Sport
- Healthcare and Rehabilitation.
Olena Lytvynenko, Deputy Head of the Council of Europe in Ukraine, wished all the participants to have fruitful discussions and cooperation in her welcome speech. She expressed her hopes that the Forum would contribute to the introduction and implementation of standards of the Council of Europe in the field of protection of economic and social rights in Ukraine.
Following each panel discussion, the audience had a chance to listen to success stories of people who inspired with their achievements. Inclusive theatre from Kryvyi Rih and modelling agency from Kharkiv, success story of a deputy of one of the local councils is by far not the full list of successes of people who overcame stereotypes in Ukraine.
Yuliia Sokolovska, Minster of Social Policy of Ukraine, underlined: “I imagined this Forum to be exactly like this one which was open for everyone. This is the Forum where we gather to discuss our problems, challenges and common victories”.
The Council of Europe international experts Marcin Wujczyk and Serghei Ostaf presented best practices of the European countries and the Council of Europe standards in the field of social and economic rights guaranteed by the European Social Charter. Serghei Ostaf stressed about the system of services oriented to support people with disabilities for achieving optimal level of independency and social participation. Marcin Wujczyk paid a special attention to Article 15 of the European Social Charter (revised):
«With a view to ensuring to persons with disabilities, irrespective of age and the nature and origin of their disabilities, the effective exercise of the right to independence, social integration and participation in the life of the community, the Parties undertake, in particular to promote their full social integration and participation in the life of the community in particular through measures, including technical aids, aiming to overcome barriers to communication and mobility and enabling access to transport, housing, cultural activities and leisure».
Siuzanna Mnatsakanian, Senior Project Officer of the Council of Europe Project “Promoting Social Human Rights as a Key Factor of Sustainable Democracy in Ukraine”, mentioned in her concluding remarks: “I hope this Forum will become a platform where all participants can share their achievements and success stories about the protection of their social rights”. The Forum “Open Space” in 2019 has become a place for effective dialogue.
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