August 19, 2015 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Diana Samarasan, Founding Executive Director
Telephone: +1-617-261-4593
Email: dsamarasan@disabilityrightsfund.org
Website: www.disabilityrightsfund.org
Twitter: @DisabRightsFund
Ukrainian DPOs Present Critical Rights Issues to the CRPD Committee
This week, on August 19-20, 2015, delegates from Ukrainian disabled persons’ organizations (DPOs) will participate in the interactive dialogue between the Committee on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD Committee) and the Ukrainian government regarding conditions for people with disabilities in Ukraine. The Disability Rights Fund (DRF), and its sister organization, the Disability Rights Advocacy Fund (DRAF), are providing financial support to the International Disability Alliance (IDA) for technical assistance to the delegation in preparation of the meetings, as well as for travel of representatives of marginalized populations to Geneva, including those working on rights of Deaf persons, children with intellectual and multiple disabilities, persons who identify as having psychosocial disabilities and persons placed in institutions.
In this 14th session of the CRPD Committee, Ukraine’s responses to the Committee’s List of Issues will be reviewed, in preparation for development of Concluding Observations – which will be published August 31st. During the meetings, the Ukrainian delegation will highlight major rights challenges regarding marginalized people with disabilities in Ukraine. With support from IDA, the Ukrainian delegation will also participate in bilateral meetings with Committee members and other UN representatives in Geneva. Watch the livecast of the meetings at http://www.treatybodywebcast.org/
“We are excited to support Ukrainian delegates from marginalized sectors of the community who are participating in the CRPD Committee’s discussions,” stated the Disability Rights Fund’s Founding Executive Director, Diana Samarasan. “With technical assistance from IDA and DRF’s Grants Consultant, Galina Yarmanova, the delegation will provide critical information to ensure CRPD Committee members understand the situation of marginalized groups within the disability movement in Ukraine. Their inputs have the potential for major impact on a national level.”
DRF and DRAF are supported by donors, including the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the American Jewish World Service, the Leir Charitable Foundations, the Open Society Foundations, and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID).
For more information, please visit our websites at www.disabilityrightsfund.org and www.drafund.org.