“All our achievements have come to nothing.” Overcoming the impact of war on people with intellectual disabilities and their families in Ukraine
COSP15 side event
Thursday 16 June 2022, 16:00 – 17.15 Brussels time.
The event is in English, with Ukrainian interpretation.
Background
Since the start of the Russian war in Ukraine, people with disabilities have been among the most at risk of being harmed and left behind of the emergency aid measures.
There are 260,000 people with intellectual disabilities in Ukraine. Most of them living with their families.
- Since the start of the war, they faced immediate risks to their lives.
- They cannot use the shelters because they are inaccessible or too crowded.
- They lacked daily supplies, food, medicine.
There are tens of thousands of people in institutions in Ukraine.
- 80,000 including children, and at at least 30,000 adults with disabilities.
Many people with disabilities fled their homes, becoming refugees in and outside of Ukraine.
- They need disability-specific support.
- Most of it has been provided by local disability organisations and NGOs.
A lot of disability-related infrastructure was missing already before, or damaged during the war.
- Post-war reconstruction must be disability-inclusive, creating a better future for Ukrainian people with intellectual disabilities.
Views and needs
The event will present views, experiences, and needs of people with intellectual disabilities and their families in Ukraine during the war.
There will be discussion about what support is missing and needs to be developed, both in Ukraine post-war, and for refugees with disabilities staying outside of Ukraine.
- It will be based on presentations from Ukrainian organization of persons with intellectual disabilities and their families, and from organisations providing support in and out of Ukraine.
Agenda
16:00 (Brussels time): Welcome remarks
- Soufiane El Amrani, Inclusion Europe
- Sponsoring missions: EU, Poland, Norway (TBC)
Speakers:
- Raisa Kravchenko, VGO Coalition, Ukraine
- Risto Burman, Tukiliitto, Finland
- Peter Berns, The Arc, USA
- Dana Migaliova, Viltis, Lithuania
- Ludmila Malcoci, Keystone Moldova, Moldova
- Adam Zawisny, PSONI, Poland (TBC)
Questions from participants
Closing remarks:
- Inclusion International
The events is organised by Inclusion Europe, Inclusion International, in collaboration with International Disability Alliance, Keystone, EU mission to the UN, Permanent Mission of Poland to the UN.
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