Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the UN Security Council Arria-formula meeting on "Persons with disabilities in situations of armed conflict and related humanitarian crises – Heightening visibility and eliminating discrimination” (6 December 2024)

Chair,

We are grateful to Permanent Missions of Guyana, Poland, Slovenia, and the UK for convening this essential discussion, and to the briefers for their valuable insights.

Ukraine aligns with the Statement of the European Union and wishes to highlight additional points in our national capacity.

The plight of persons with disabilities in armed conflicts is a critical issue. Under Russian aggression, challenges for Ukraine are particularly severe.

Russian Federation's war disproportionately affects persons with disabilities, who face immense barriers to accessing shelter and safe evacuation amidst relentless missile and drone attacks. Many struggle to obtain essential services, life-saving medications, and humanitarian aid. 

No region in Ukraine is entirely safe due to the continuous targeting of civilians, including critical energy infrastructure. Over 1600 medical facilities crucial for persons with disabilities have been damaged or destroyed.

Since February 2022, the war has caused approximately 300 000 new cases of disability, raising the total to over 3 million people, including over 160 000 children. The primary causes are explosive weapons, landmines, and combat injuries. Most victims are young, active individuals who seek rehabilitation and employment opportunities.

In temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, children with disabilities are forcibly relocated to other Russian-occupied areas or unlawfully deported to Russia. There, they are placed with Russian families, granted citizenship, and separated from their own families. Many of these children are not true orphans but have relatives in Ukraine.

Disturbingly, reports reveal their transfer to psychiatric or other institutions under the guise of treatment, exposing them to risks such as physical harm, cultural erasure, and permanent family separation.

Chair,

To address the needs of people with disabilities, Government of Ukraine has prioritized enforcing disability rights and creating a barrier-free environment. The National Strategy for a Barrier-Free Environment until 2030 outlines comprehensive measures to enhance accessibility, develop inclusive transportation systems, and implement modern, inclusive construction standards. 

We strive to ensure that persons with disabilities in Ukraine have access to necessary services, have opportunity to work, and the chance to live safely and with dignity. However, the scale of the challenge caused by Russian Federation’s aggression is immense. 

Also in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories, the lack of humanitarian access has left persons with disabilities in a dire situation.

We deeply appreciate the unwavering support of all partners in building a barrier-free and secure environment for all. The role of UN agencies is critical both in their humanitarian response and project activities in Ukraine.

We call on the international community to ensure accountability for all Russian Federation’s crimes, including against persons with disabilities, which flagrantly violate international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolution 2475, which Russia itself adopted. The world must stand firm in its demand to the Russian Federation to cease its violations which they cover with widespread propaganda and lies.

Thank you.