Universal Design Conference in Kyiv
The first international conference “Universal Design as a tool for building an inclusive society” was hosted in Kyiv on February 13 of 2015. It brought together over 200 representatives of business, government, media, civic organizations, as well as architects, urban experts, activists, students and teachers.
Universal design aims to create environment, objects, items and services accessible and easy to use for most people. In Ukraine, the target users of universally designed services and infrastructure primarily are 2.8 million people with disabilities, 2 million children of pre-school age, almost 7 million people aged 65 and older, over 500,000 parents with strollers, over 400,000 pregnant women, and around 400,000 people with temporary health impairments (based on the statistics of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine and NAIU).
“In Ukraine, due to the ongoing armed conflict in the eastern part of the country and therefore increased numbers of people with acquired disability, it has become more important to continue the joint efforts in implementing universal design and accessibility criteria in infrastructure, architecture, transportation and services. And it has been always on the UNDP agenda to ensure protection of the most vulnerable groups of people anywhere in the world, including Ukraine”, said Ms. Inita Pauloviča, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Ukraine.
“In Ukraine, all the people have equal right for accessing educational, medical, administrative and commercial services. In practice though, many houses, schools, institutions and services are inaccessible or difficult to access for some groups of people”, said Ms. Kristina Bagramian, the manager of the Joint Programme.
“For Ukraine to succeed in introducing universal design principles, the Government and the Ministries with their supporting institutions should act as a leading force in developing the policy for people with disabilities and its connection to the policy for equality, humanism and participation as a broad approach”, said Mr. Einar Lund, Senior Advisor of the Department of Planning of the Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Modernization.
“The UN agencies will continue facilitating implementation of universal design in Ukraine, recognizing its life-changing impact in these uncertain and difficult times for the country. We are hopeful that very soon Ukraine will become a country with full inclusion and wide respect of individual rights”, summarized up Ms. Inita Paulovič.
The conference was held as a part of the Joint Programme “Promoting Mainstream Policies and Services for People with Disabilities in Ukraine”, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) in partnership with the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine and the National Assembly of the People with Disabilities of Ukraine (NAIU).
Info UNDP
