The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
This is a modal window.
STORYLINE
People with disabilities trapped in the Russian control zones in Ukraine are reportedly being used as “human shields” by the Russian Federation armed forces,”, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) warned on Friday.
Issuing its special report on the situation of people with disabilities in Ukraine, Jonas Ruskus, Vice-Chair of the Committee said he was “gravely concerned” about the situation of people with disabilities in the country, which was invaded by Russia on 24 February.
Mr. Ruskus told a news conference in Geneva that they are being kept in “inhuman conditions” and their evacuation from residential institutions in conflict areas is not being prioritised.
The CRPD Vice Chair said the committee had information from several disability organizations in the country that at least 12 people with disabilities had died in a residential institution in territory under Russian control.
He urged both Ukraine and Russia to evacuate them immediately and to ensure that the evacuation process is monitored by independent parties.
“Some people with disabilities in Ukraine remain trapped in life-threatening situations and must be evacuated to ensure they can access basic needs like food and heating as winter approaches,” Mr. Raskus told a news conference in Geneva.
Mr. Ruskus reminded all concerned parties of their obligation to ensure that people with disabilities, including in the current situation in Ukraine, have access to services and relief in the community on an equal basis with others.
He urged for rapid de-institutionalisation and investment in community services and called for disabled people's inclusion in decision-making processes when international cooperation funds are used.
Around 2.7 million people lived with a disability in Ukraine before the conflict started. In August, four UN-appointed independent human rights experts warned that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is having “a disproportionate impact” on persons with disabilities, especially children in institutions there.
The UN experts expressed hope that investments will be made to build community support that will enable children with disabilities to flourish with their families and in family-like situations as opposed to institutions.
“It is our earnest hope that Ukraine will commit itself to a better future for persons with disabilities, especially children,” the experts said.
The CRPD findings were issued on Friday alongside its country reviews on Bangladesh, China*, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Lao People’s Democratic Republic**, New Zealand and Singapore. The report contains the Committee's main concerns and recommendations on implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
ENDS
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WMO
Sara Basart, WMO Scientific Officer, speaks.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , OHCHR , WHO , UNCTAD
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the International Trade Centre, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, World Health Organization, and United Nations Trade and Development.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
At the United Nations bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights made the following comments on the recent violence in Kenya.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | ITC
1
1
1
Edited News | ITC
US tariffs uncertainty hurts world economy, with poorest countries hit hardest – top UN economist
A new US decision to further delay the end of a 90-day pause on tariffs is bad for business, a top UN economist said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WIPO , UNICEF , UNHCR , WHO , IFRC
Rolando Gómez, of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Federation of the Red Cross, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the Organisation Internationale pour la Francophonie, and the GIGA Connectivity Forum.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , OHCHR
Gaza aid site horror continues as more starving people shot trying to get food
Amid intensifying hopes for a new Gaza ceasefire, UN humanitarians confirmed disturbing details on Friday of continued killings and injuries of Palestinians desperately seeking food at aid sites.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
Launch of the latest report of the Special Rapporteur "From economy of occupation to economy of genocide".
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
A clearer picture of needs across Iran is beginning to emerge after the conflict this month with Israel, which left hundreds dead, several hospitals hit and a spike in Afghan refugees returning home, the UN’s top official in Tehran said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | WMO
The blistering early-summer heatwave that’s brought life-threatening temperatures across much of the northern hemisphere is a worrying sign of things to come, UN weather experts said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , WFP , WMO
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations in Iran, the World Food Programme, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Meteorological Organisation, and the International Federation of the Red Cross.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk made the following remarks to the Human Rights Council annual panel on adverse impacts of climate change.