Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has had particularly severe consequences for children with disabilities. Children who remain in areas affected by the war, as well as those displaced to Council of Europe member states face heightened risks, including limited access to specialised care and support.
Against this backdrop, the Council of Europe Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU) has published two new comparative studies: one on the impact of war on children with disabilities, and the other one on foster care for children with disabilities. Together, these studies examine both the immediate impact of war and displacement on children of Ukraine with disabilities and inform the longer-term reforms towards family-based care tailored to children’s needs.
The impact of war and displacement
The first study, prepared for the CGU’s Special Thematic Hearing on the impact of war on children with disabilities, explores how the war of aggression has affected children with disabilities in Ukraine and those displaced to selected Council of Europe member states. Drawing on contributions from representatives of government authorities and civil society organisations in Austria, Czechia, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania and Ukraine, the study highlights the support measures put in place for children of Ukraine with disabilities and identifies barriers many children face in accessing healthcare, inclusive education and social protection. It also sets out key considerations for Council of Europe member states to address these challenges.
At the heart of the study are the experiences of 22 children, including 17 living in Ukraine and five in Poland. Their accounts reveal the varied challenges they face, from physical danger and trauma linked to the war, to family separation, social acceptance and integration in a new country.
Strengthening family-based care
The second study looks at how foster care systems can better support children with disabilities and complex care needs. Based on expert consultations organised with the support of the CGU Secretariat, it compares foster care frameworks in Czechia, Finland, Lithuania and Northern Ireland (United Kingdom). The study examines legal and policy measures driving the shift away from institutional care towards personalised family- and community-based alternatives, in line with European and international human rights standards.
The study recognises the Ukrainian government’s continued commitment to developing rights-based childcare services as part of its broader reform effort. By highlighting selected national experiences of providing care for children with disabilities and complex care needs in family settings, the analysis offers insights that may inform ongoing and future reforms in this area.
Taken together, the studies highlight the need for sustained attention to the protection and support of children with disabilities, and for coordinated policy responses developed in partnership with the Ukrainian government and civil society and informed by children’s perspectives.
Calls for Tenders
