In framework of permanent cooperation with United Nations’ bodies and agencies, our Association sent this February submission to UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, for its 32nd session’s general discussion on the rights of persons with disabilities to participate in political and public life to be held in Geneva UN office.
Our submission, published at UN web-sources now, described to the Committee issues of violation of the relevant rights of Ukrainian persons with disabilities, guaranteed by article 29 of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in Russia-controlled territories of Ukraine, including the Crimea.
ARC’s submission reminded that thousands of Ukrainians, including persons with disabilities lost their houses and safe access to medical and social services, due to Russian aggression and related hostilities.
ARC’s submission stressed that Russian attacks against Ukrainian non-combatants, including medic and social personnel and against Ukrainian civil infrastructure have features of state terrorism and made strong negative influence on realisation the rights of persons with disabilities, including participation in political and public life.
Our submission added that no free elections were held in Ukrainian territories under Russian control, so all electoral rights of persons with disabilities are brutally ignored there. Even more, persons with disabilities have no practical possibility to influence the activities of “administrations” in Russia-occupied territories, even for “humanitarian and social issues”, ARC’s submission added.
All Russia-controlled “entities for persons with disabilities”, like “associations of blind persons” or “associations of deaf persons” are fictitious and are used only as a formal “beneficiaries” of enterprises, producing military production in the interests of the Russian Army, ARC’s submission stressed.
ARC’s submission reminded that Russian repressions in the Crimea and other Russia-occupied territories of Ukraine brutally violate rights of persons with disabilities, who reflect their own social or religious position, that is not in compliance with Russian militaristic, chauvinistic and Nazi propaganda. We pointed figures of people with disabilities, who are seriously ill, are being held in Russia-controlled places of non-freedom, including Olexandr Sizikov, Servet Gaziev, Zekirya Muratov, Timur Ibragimov, Amet Suleymanov, Timur Yalkabov and Remzi Kurtnezirov, who is currently under “house arrest”.
ARC’s submission stressed, that issues of disinformation, enforced disappearances, illegal imprisonment and fines, hate speech, racial discrimination and genocidal policy against persons with disabilities, especially belonging to minorities and indigenous peoples, in conflict zones and zones of foreign effective control, including ongoing challenges to the right to participate in political and public life, must be must be taken into account by Committee, including examples described.
