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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
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