The European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) and Disability Rights International (DRI) invite you to a webinar, organized to be held on the European Independent Living Day and focuses on the role of international relief and funding in conflict and post-war recovery.
- Date: May 5, 2022
- Time: 3 - 4:30 p.m. CET / 9:00 – 11:30 am EST
There were an estimated 100,000 children in Ukraine’s institutions before Russia’s war on Ukraine which began in March 2022. In 2015, Disability Rights International published its report “No Way Home – the Exploitation and Abuse of Children in Ukraine’s Orphanages” about the horrific human rights abuses in institutions for children in Ukraine, warning about the particularly vulnerable situation of children caught in the conflict in Eastern Ukraine.
It noted that some children have been moved to other parts of Ukraine, while others disappeared into Russia. It set out a number of recommendations, including that international funders should support the closure of children’s institutions and the establishment of family-based services. Today, seven years after, we see the consequences of the inaction of the international community, with children from Ukraine’s institutions at risk both within Ukraine and abroad.
This year – marked the European Year of Youth - the day is dedicated to children and young people with disabilities. Therefore, we want to use it to raise awareness about the situation of children with disabilities from Ukraine’s institutions. We plan to discuss what should happen during post-war recovery. This includes the role that international relief agencies and funders should play in ensuring that children from Ukraine’s institutions are not abandoned, abused, exploited or further segregated from society during the conflict -- have a safe place to return to, within families, and outside institutions.
* There will be English captions, international sign language and Ukrainian interpretation.
Draft agenda*
15:00 – 15:05 Welcome and introduction – Ines Bulic Cojocariu, European Network on Independent Living
15:05 – 15:15 The situation of children in/from Ukraine’s institutions
- Halyna Kurylo, Disability Rights International – Ukraine
15:15 – 15:30 Perspectives from Ukraine
- Ukraine Child Rights Ombudsman (TBC)
- Marianna, Rodina (TBC)
15:30 – 15:45 The work of international organisations to address the situation of children in institutions
- Mariya Yasenovska, European Disability Forum (TBC)
- Marlee Quinn, Humanity & Inclusion (TBC)
15:45 – 16:00 Preventing re-institutionalisation of children during the post-war recover – the role of international funders and recommendations for action
- Jonas Ruskus, Vice-Chair of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Eric Rosenthal, Disability Rights International
16:00 – 16:25 Discussion
16:25 – 16:30 Closure of the event - Eric Rosenthal, Disability Rights International
* Please note that this agenda is subject to changes.
This webinar is organised with the support of the European Union