Appeals, Statements and Opinion

France

Communication of the CNCPH on the protection and security of persons with disabilities in Ukraine (in French, 2022)

Back to contents.

Ireland

Disabled Women Ireland Statement on supporting disabled people arriving from Ukraine (2022, DWI)

Back to contents.

Ukraine

Joint statement on the forcible transfer, deportation, and adoption of children from Ukraine by Russia. (2023, EDF)

UN experts call for urgent action to protect Ukrainian children with disabilities in residential care institutions. (2022, OHCHR)

Joint Statement on the Situation of Older Persons in Ukraine. “Those older persons who have relocated to other areas within Ukraine have undertaken arduous journeys, beset with risk, lacking access to basic health care and other needs while on the move—all while being away from their families and loved ones. Many of those who have remained in their own towns have also experienced limited access to services and a breakdown of their social networks.” (2022, HelpAge and others)

UN Human Rights experts on the Millions of displaced traumatised and urgently need help (2022, OHCHR)

UN Committee warns that 2.7 million people with disabilities at risk (2022, OHCHR)

European Disability Forum Resolution on Protection and safety of persons with disabilities in the war in Ukraine. Recommendations to the European Union and Member States. (link to pdf, 2022)

Sarah Phillips has been researching with disabled people in the Ukraine for around 20 years. Refusal to Die is an essay revisiting the current situation of those she knows.

"Back in his Kyiv hotel, Dmitrii keeps his good humor. He sends me jokes and memes on Telegram. He claims he’s glad he got stranded with the other hotel guests, who rely on his cool head and jokes to get through each day. He won’t answer my questions about his supplies of food and medicines. Dmitrii has survived everything else: Can he survive a war? I hope he will keep up his streak and refuse to die." (2022, Cultural Anthropology)

Diakonia International Humanitarian Law Centre calls to Protect persons with disabilities in the Ukraine conflict (2022)

European Network on Independent Living War in Ukraine: Leave No One Behind (2022, ENIL)

CRPD Committee opens first full session since 2019: The situation of persons with disabilities in Ukraine in focus. (2022, IDA) See also detailed report of the Committee Meeting.

Ukraine Crisis: CBM Global Statement (2022)

International Disability Alliance: Through this conflict in Ukraine, what happens to persons with disabilities? (2022, IDA)

Discrimination against people with disabilities is one example of how Russia operates outside rule of law (2022, Canada's National Observer: News & Analysis) Sure, I guess, I wonder what it is an example of when other countries do it though.

World Blind Union stands united with Ukraine and is taking action to help (2022, WBU)

the UN Head of Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine on the situation in Ukraine: (2022, OHCHR)

War in Ukraine shows devastating impact of heavy bombing and shelling on civilian population. "Explosive weapons kill and/or cause complex injuries. They are the cause of massive forced displacement. Entire communities suffer extensive psychological trauma, with particularly acute consequences on children." (2022, Humanity and Inclusion)

UN Human Rights Experts: Protecting life must be a priority "Many more risk dying as a result of the destruction of essential infrastructure, including health care facilities and institutions for older persons with disabilities." (2022, OHCHR) See also statement on older people and those with disabilities face heightened risks (4 March).

The European Blind Union Protect blind and partially sighted people "Stop War Immediately" (link to pdf, 2022)

Autism Europe Call to ensure the protection of Ukrainian autistic people "autistic people and their families are largely invisible and underserved by humanitarian aid dedicated to supporting the people of Ukraine" (2022, Autism Europe)

Covid and Disability project Letter from Kiril Sharapov

"Organisations of persons with disabilities remain one of the last remaining systems of support for people they have been taking care of within the context of the pandemic and now within the context of this catastrophic war. They continue, where and when they can, to provide support to the most vulnerable individuals and their families. Their knowledge and expertise must inform all current and future relief efforts provided by the Government of Ukraine and by the international donors and humanitarian agencies." (2022)

Appeal from the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine for help to "defend peace in our country", which speaks to the active role disabled people and their organizations are playing:

"Today in Ukraine, people with disabilities and disabled people’s organizations are helping our State and are standing shoulder to shoulder with our defenders. Everyone is trying to help as best they can: by cooking meals, working as dispatchers, delivering medicines, helping in hospitals, offering shelter to displaced people within the country, joining territorial civilian defence forces, or making Molotov cocktails. Yesterday we received information that a son, father and husband was killed near Kiev when defending his family, his home. He used a wheelchair but also joined the defence forces. Our world-famous paralympic athletes took up arms. We are united. " (2022, EDF)

Down Syndrome International statement on Ukraine conflict (2022)

G3ict and IAAP Statement: Protection and Safety of Persons with Disabilities in Ukraine (2022)

In war disabled people cannot be left behind. Quotes a Paralympian saying in 2016, "Ukraine has already won 37 medals in the Paralympics, 12 of them are gold… We have more medals than wheelchair ramps in an average Ukrainian town." (2022, The Once and Future Cripple)

Q&A with Ilya Kaminsky, Ukrainian-American poet a beautiful wide-ranging issues that touches on Deaf Gain and its contribution to the larger world.

"We must remember that even in the most difficult situations, people are still able to retain their humanity. They fall in love, they marry, and they have children. We must honor that too, and not just speak of the darkness of war. We must honor human survival, because if we don’t do this, if we don’t pay attention to every aspect, we dehumanize the suffering." (2022, Daily Princetonian)

The United States International Council on Disabilities Calls for the Protection And Safety of Ukrainians with Disabilities (link to pdf, 2022)

An open letter from social scientists of disability call to Stop the War in Ukraine (2022)

Back to contents.