The British Council is holding a national workshop in Kyiv on 12 and 13 December on greater inclusion of people with disabilities in decision-making, partnership with ministries, local authorities and Verkhovna Rada.
The workshop, conducted with participation of the representatives of the Ministries of Social Policy and of Education and Science, the Verkhovna Rada, and local authorities in Vinnytsya and Kyiv, form part of an EU co-funded project called Inclusive Decisions for Equal and Accountable Society (IDEAS).
The project, which runs in six countries, is managed by the British Council and is aimed at practical steps in implementing greater access and involvement of people with disabilities in decision-making. Partners in Ukraine include the National Assembly for People with Disabilities.
Martin Dowle, Director British Council Ukraine, said: “The British Council is strongly committed to extending access and participation in wider society for people with disabilities. Improving their participation in public decision-making processes is an essential step in ensuring their rights to equal participation are respected and enhanced.”
The workshop follows an earlier visit to the United Kingdom to see current practices on inclusion for people with disabilities at first hand.
Irina Sukhinina, the Project Manager for British Council Ukraine, commented: “We hope that as a result of this three year project many more people not only in government sector but in wider society will understand the necessity to include people with disabilities into the social life contributing to a more comfortable and equal society. Please follow us in this project to see how further project activities will boost participating countries on their way.”