Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Concluding observations on the combined second and third periodic reports of Ukraine * *
I.Introduction
1.The Committee considered the combined second and third periodic reports of Ukraine at its 742nd and 743rd meetings, held on 27 and 28 August 2024. It adopted the following concluding observations at its 754th meeting, held on 4 September 2024.
2.The Committee welcomes the combined second and third periodic reports of Ukraine, which were prepared in accordance with the Committee’s reporting guidelines and in response to its list of issues prior to reporting, and the additional information submitted by the State party.
3.The Committee appreciates the fruitful and frank dialogue held with the State party’s high-level delegation, which included representatives of the relevant government ministries.
II.Positive aspects
4.The Committee welcomes the measures taken by the State party to implement the Convention, following the recommendations contained in its concluding observations on the initial report of the State party in 2015. It notes with appreciation the following:
(a)The National Action Plan for the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities until 2025, approved on 7 April 2021;
(b)The National Strategy for a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine until 2030, adopted on 14 April 2021;
(c)The National Action Plan for the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security until 2025, approved on 16 December 2022;
(d)The ratification and entry into force of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, on 18 July and 1 November 2022, respectively;
(e)The accession to and entry into force of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled, on 8 June and 8 September 2023, respectively;
III.Aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation
5.The Committee acknowledges that more than two years have passed since the start of the 2022 full-scale armed attack by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which has gravely deteriorated the situation of persons with disabilities in the State party, including in territories under occupation. The Committee recalls the peremptory norm (jus cogens) to protect life, including obligations pursuant to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (art. 6), to protect the right to life even in situations of armed conflict, as well as obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to ensure the effective enjoyment of the right to life of persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others (art. 10) and their protection and safety in situations of risk, including in armed conflict (art. 11). That framework entails obligations for Ukraine and the Russian Federation to protect the life of persons with disabilities under all circumstances, including those living in the territory under occupation, those who have been forcibly transferred to the Russian Federation and those who are in third countries to which they have fled in search of international protection.
IV.Principal areas of concern and recommendations
A.General principles and obligations (arts. 1–4)
6.The Committee notes with concern:
(a)That the State party’s terminology still does not align with the Convention and that a lack of consistency remains, resulting in discriminatory treatment for persons with disabilities;
(b)The classification set forth in the legislation for persons with disabilities, which is obsolete and contrary to the paradigm shift of the Convention, and the prevalence of the medical model of disability in policies addressing persons with disabilities, indicating a lack of professional training for, and understanding of, their rights among public officials and professionals;
(c)That most of the provisions of the National Action Plan for the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities until 2020 were not executed, and that the State party did not adopt a monitoring mechanism for its implementation, resulting in a lack of recommendations and sanctions for non-compliance by relevant agencies;
(d)That the State party has not implemented the recommendations contained in chapter XI of the Committee’s report on its twenty-seventh session.
7. The Committee reiterates its recommendation contained in its concluding observations on the initial report of Ukraine to adopt a human rights-based approach to disability in all its laws, policies and decisions, and it further recommends that the State party:
(a) Conduct a comprehensive review of its domestic legal framework on the rights of persons with disabilities to fully align its terminology and content with the Convention;
(b) Amend its legislation to eliminate the classification of persons with disabilities and ensure that its legal framework recognizes and guarantees their rights on an equal basis with others;
(c) Repeal the medical model of disability in all its policies and programmes and amend its legal framework accordingly to ensure that it reflects a human rights ‑ based approach to disability ;
(d) Design a monitoring mechanism for the National Action Plan for the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities until 2025 and ensure its continuation thereafter;
(e) Implement the recommendations contained in chapter XI of the Committee ’ s report on its twenty-seventh session.
8.The Committee is concerned about the lack of effective procedures for the active involvement of persons with disabilities through their representative organizations in public decision-making processes.
9. Recalling its general comment No. 7 (2018) on the participation of persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, through their representative organizations, in the implementation and monitoring of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party develop effective procedures for the involvement of persons with disabilities in all public decision-making mechanisms.
B.Specific rights (arts. 5–30)
Equality and non-discrimination (art. 5)
10.The Committee is concerned:
(a)That the State party’s legislation, including the Law on the Principles of Preventing and Combating Discrimination (No. 5207-VI), does not contain a cross-cutting obligation not to discriminate against persons with disabilities and does not ensure criminal liability for discrimination;
(b)About prevailing obstacles to take discrimination-related cases to court;
(c)That the denial of reasonable accommodation is not effectively recognized as a form of discrimination on the basis of disability in all areas of life;
(d)That the legal framework of the State party does not protect persons with disabilities from multiple and intersectional discrimination, nor does it provide mechanisms to prevent, report, investigate and sanction these cases.
11. The Committee recalls its previous recommendations and recommends that the State party :
(a) Amend its legislation, including the Law on the Principles of Preventing and Combating Discrimination, to include provisions setting forth the cross-cutting obligation of all authorities not to discriminate against persons with disabilities, and criminal sanctions for lack of compliance thereto;
(b) Foster the use of available legal remedies by persons with disabilities facing discrimination;
(c) Explicitly include in its legislation denial of reasonable accommodation as a form of discrimination and ensure criminal liability for it;
(d) Establish accessible mechanisms to prevent multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination and protect persons with disabilities from such discrimination, and introduce mechanisms to investigate and sanction these cases.
Women with disabilities (art. 6)
12.The Committee is concerned about:
(a)The lack of support of the State party for women and children with disabilities in conflict-affected areas, including women with and without disabilities who are in charge of the care and education of children with disabilities;
(b)The prevalence of discrimination, in accessing social entitlements, housing, humanitarian aid and other entitlements, against women, particularly women with disabilities who are internally displaced or who are seeking international protection, women in charge of supporting persons with disabilities, and women who have acquired a disability during the conflict.
13. The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Implement urgent measures so that mothers and children with disabilities receive State support to protect their rights, including for the care and education of children with disabilities;
(b) Ensure the implementation of the recommendations contained in the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the ninth periodic report of Ukraine on the adoption of comprehensive policies and programmes to protect the rights of women and girls with disabilities, in particular those facing intersecting forms of discrimination.
Children with disabilities (art. 7)
14.The Committee is concerned about:
(a)The inadequate standard of living of children with disabilities, including the lack of inclusive education and transportation, as well as the lack of access to adequate housing, equipment and accommodation for physical and occupational therapy;
(b)The difficulties that children with disabilities face during the conflict, making it difficult to continue their life in community and forcing families to send them to institutions;
(c)The lack of consideration of the opinion of children with disabilities in matters that concern them.
15. Recalling the joint statement of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on the rights of children with disabilities (2022), as well as the recommendations contained in chapter XI of the Committee ’ s report on its twenty-seventh session, the Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Mainstream the rights of children with disabilities into all its policies and programmes and ensure access to all the devices that they require;
(b) Establish policies that support the families of children with disabilities, both with training and funding, so that lack of support does not force them into institutionalization;
(c) Establish mechanisms for children with disabilities to express their opinions on issues that interest and concern them.
Awareness-raising (art. 8)
16.The Committee notes with concern:
(a)That the State party still lacks comprehensive policies for awareness-raising on the rights of persons with disabilities at the national level, including in rural and remote areas and, consequently, the low level of knowledge of their rights, including the right to free legal aid, as well as information related to the conflict in accessible formats;
(b)The lack of active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, in the development of awareness and sensitization campaigns.
17. The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Ensure that all its policies and public programmes, including the National Strategy for a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine until 2030, comprise awareness ‑ raising campaigns addressing comprehensively the rights of persons with disabilities, including in conflict-affected areas. Such policies must include monitoring mechanisms and indicators aligned with the Convention;
(b) Guarantee the active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, in the development and supervision of all awareness ‑ raising campaigns and policies.
Accessibility (art. 9)
18.The Committee is concerned about:
(a)Insufficient enforcement and monitoring of laws and regulations on disability, particularly on physical access, accessible information and communications technology, and transportation, including in remote and rural areas;
(b)The fact that persons with disabilities are not systematically and meaningfully consulted in the review, implementation and evaluation of laws, policies and regulations related to accessibility;
(c)The lack of a comprehensive strategy with specific goals, timelines and indicators for the implementation of the National Strategy for a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine until 2030.
19. Recalling its general comment No. 7 (2018) on the participation of persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, through their representative organizations, in the implementation and monitoring of the Convention and its general comment No. 2 (2014) on accessibility, the Committee recommends that the State party, in close consultation with and with the active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations:
(a) Establish mechanisms to monitor and evaluate its accessibility policies, imposing effective sanctions on those who fail to apply accessibility and inclusivity standards;
(b) Set forth mechanisms to ensure that persons with disabilities participate, including through public hearings and consultations, in the review, implementation and evaluation of laws, policies and regulations related to accessibility;
(c) Ensure that the National Strategy for a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine until 2030 mainstreams disability.
Right to life (art.10)
20.The Committee is concerned about reports that persons with disabilities have been extrajudicially executed in the context of the conflict and occupation.
21. The Committee recalls that the right to life is non-derogable and enjoys the status of a peremptory norm, which entails the obligation of the State party and the occupying Power to protect the right to life of all persons with disabilities. The Committee calls upon the State party to increase its efforts to investigate the extrajudicial executions of persons with disabilities during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation and to establish criminal responsibility for such crimes, adopt measures to restore the dignity of victims and provide comprehensive reparations to survivors, including family members and communities.
Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies (art. 11)
22.The Committee notes with concern that the State party did not take preventive measures to address risks, including during humanitarian emergencies, which could have allowed better protection of persons with disabilities during the conflict. It observes that several factors have impeded the safety and security of persons with disabilities in the context of the conflict and the increase in the number of persons who have acquired an impairment. It is concerned that:
(a)In civil protection and evacuation plans, as well as in the coordination of decisions on the distribution of humanitarian aid, no specific actions have been contemplated for persons with disabilities and amendments to such plans have not involved persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, causing serious difficulties for their protection and evacuation. In addition, evacuation points are not accessible;
(b)There is a lack of accessibility in relation to emergency and evacuation plans, as well as in shelters and emergency infrastructure;
(c)Persons with disabilities are more exposed to violence and loss of their aids and devices, and women and girls with disabilities face gender-based violence, abuse and marginalization and increased risk of trafficking and forced marriage, during the armed conflict;
(d)The procedure to obtain a conflict-related disability status is difficult and discriminates in access to social entitlements and long-term rehabilitation services depending on the region in which hostilities led to the disability;
(e)Persons with disabilities in occupied territories and asylum-seekers, refugees and those in refugee-like situations with disabilities who have received international protection in other countries often face difficulties in accessing benefits from Ukraine;
(f)There are insufficient comprehensive measures, particularly in relation to insufficient access to adequate housing and social programmes, to protect the rights of internally displaced persons with disabilities – who, according to the State party, number 205,196 as at 1 January 2024;
(g)Some women and girls with disabilities are forced to cross the border and are subjected to violence, including sexual violence;
(h)There has been a deterioration in the situation of older persons with disabilities, and that they are facing increasing institutionalization and difficulties being evacuated from the conflict areas and protecting themselves from the hostilities;
(i)Children, including children with disabilities, are being separated from their families and forcibly transferred from territories controlled by Ukraine to those controlled by the Russian Federation. It is also concerned about insufficient information available about children with disabilities in occupied territories, including information on how many are in institutions, if they have been separated from their families and if they are receiving education and financial support;
(j)The State party has not sufficiently ensured that third countries receiving children with disabilities do not place them in institutions;
(k)Humanitarian, recovery, post-conflict and development projects, including those with international and regional partners, do not mainstream disability and have not been developed in close consultation with and with the active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations;
(l)The State party did not mainstream disability into its response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
23. In the light of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 and the guidelines on deinstitutionalization, including in emergencies, t he Committee recommends that the State party, in close consultation with and with the active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations:
(a) Reform civil protection, emergency and evacuation plans to provide adequate support and protection for persons with disabilities, and accessible warning systems, shelters and evacuation routes at home, in institutions and at the border. The State party should also:
(i) Provide persons with disabilities with information on disaster risk reduction and emergencies in accessible formats, including Braille, Easy Read and sign language, and using alternative modes and formats of communication;
(ii) Ensure accessible facilities for respite care and for keeping and maintaining personal devices;
(iii) Ensure the active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, in the planning and distribution of humanitarian aid;
(b) Ensure that the national preparedness plans provide for inclusive and accessible warning systems and shelters for persons with disabilities and secure sufficient funding in its regular budget and that from development and recovery projects to ensure that the Ukraine without Barriers campaign and other accessibility projects are implemented;
(c) In accordance with the recommendations contained in the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the ninth periodic report of Ukraine, adopt legal safeguards to protect women and girls with disabilities from being harassed into a forced marriage and ensure that such cases are investigated, the perpetrators sanctioned and comprehensive reparations provided to the victims;
(d) Establish agile and expeditious mechanisms so that persons with disabilities can obtain a conflict-related disability status and access social benefits and long-term rehabilitation services in all regions;
(e) Ensure that persons with disabilities in occupied territories and asylum ‑ seekers, refugees and persons in refugee-like situations with disabilities can access benefits from Ukraine;
(f) Guarantee a human rights-based response for internally displaced persons with disabilities, particularly those who have been displaced for prolonged periods, including in relation to violence and armed conflict, ensuring that they are provided with assistance and accessible and safe shelters;
(g) Prevent persons with disabilities, especially women and children with disabilities, from crossing the border without their consent and prevent and punish violence, including sexual violence, against them;
(h) Recalling the report on the human rights protection of older persons in emergency situations by the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons , develop comprehensive and inclusive policies specifically tailored to the needs of older persons with disabilities to ensure that their rights are respected and to eliminate any protection gaps that they face in emergencies;
(i) Make sure that children with disabilities affected by the armed conflict remain with their families in community-based environments and that, in cooperation with the international community, take all measures necessary to facilitate the return of children with disabilities who have reportedly been forcibly transferred to the territory of the Russian Federation;
(j) Ensure that third countries receiving children with disabilities from the State party do not institutionalize them and commit to interrupt any international development funding that is being used to perpetuate the segregation of persons with disabilities and reallocate such funding towards projects and initiatives that are in compliance with the Convention;
(k) Mainstream disability into all its future humanitarian, reconstruction, development and post-conflict projects with international and local partners, and develop them in close consultation with persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations. The Committee also recommends that national legislation ensure that all businesses participating in reconstruction comply with accessibility standards and establish enforcement mechanisms to that end;
(l) Adopt an overarching national plan to coordinate the implementation of programmes to respond to pandemics and other public health emergencies, including a disability-inclusive COVID-19 response and recovery plan.
Equal recognition before the law (art. 12)
24.The Committee notes with concern that the reforms approved in 2017 by the State party on the legal capacity of persons with disabilities are insufficient and not aligned with the Convention. In particular, it is concerned about:
(a)The removal of legal capacity for persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities, which is still allowed;
(b)The fact that persons with disabilities only have legal standing for procedures related to the deprivation of their legal capacity;
(c)The arbitrary application and assessment of forensic psychiatric examinations in cases related to the removal and restoration of legal capacity;
(d)The fact that judicial decisions restoring the legal capacity of persons with disabilities remain extremely rare and there is no review procedure for decisions on the removal of legal capacity rendered before 2017;
(e)The fact that free legal assistance for persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities is still restricted on the basis of impairment.
25. The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Abolish all laws and practices on substitute decision-making and those that deny the full legal capacity of persons with disabilities and introduce supported decision-making mechanisms;
(b) Recognize the full legal and procedural standing of persons with disabilities to access courts regarding all matters and not only regarding the restoration of their legal capacity;
(c) Disseminate, among persons with disabilities, information on their right to appeal decisions removing their legal capacity, including campaigns in long-term care institutions;
(d) Ensure that the two-year limit on deprivation of legal capacity is enforced in practice by long-term care institutions and courts;
(e) Establish a procedure to review and appeal decisions on the removal of legal capacity rendered before 2017;
(f) Amend its legal framework with the aim of recognizing the right to appoint an independent or third-party expert in cases involving the removal or restoration of legal capacity, and any other legal proceedings related to the rights of persons with disabilities.
Access to justice (art. 13)
26.The Committee notes with concern that obstacles remain for persons with disabilities to access courts, in particular:
(a)That judges lack knowledge of international human rights standards on the legal capacity of persons with disabilities;
(b)That there is insufficient awareness among persons with disabilities about their right to free legal aid;
(c)The lack of procedural accommodation, including measures to ensure access to courts for persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities, and the insufficient number of accredited sign language interpreters in courts;
(d)The lack of measures to enable persons with disabilities to participate fully as complainants, witnesses, expert witnesses, judges or clerks.
27. The Committee recalls the International Principles and Guidelines on Access to Justice for Persons with Disabilities, prepared in 2020 by the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities and the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Disability and Accessibility, and endorsed by the Committee, as well as target 16.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals, and recommends that the State party:
(a) Repeal legislation that creates barriers for persons with disabilities to access justice and ensure the involvement of persons with disabilities in all legal proceedings, on an equal basis with others;
(b) Provide age- and gender-appropriate individualized accommodations and accessible modes and formats of communication in all judicial procedures, including for persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities;
(c) Provide mandatory and ongoing capacity-building programmes, including training on the provisions of the Convention, for members of the judiciary and the legal profession;
(d) Increase its efforts to empower persons with disabilities as direct or indirect participants in the justice system, including to ensure that persons with disabilities who are qualified can practice in the legal profession, as lawyers and court officers, without discrimination.
Liberty and security of person (art. 14)
28.The Committee is concerned that:
(a)Despite revision of the Law on Psychiatric Care (No. 1489-III) to involve some degree of judicial control on the matter, the State party still allows the institutionalization of persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities in psychiatric hospitals without their consent;
(b)There is a lack of information on the content and status of the draft law prepared by the Ministry of Health on ratification of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine.
29. Recalling the Committee ’ s guidelines on deinstitutionalization, including in emergencies, as well as the guidelines on the right to liberty and security of persons with disabilities (2015), the Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Repeal all laws and regulations allowing the forced hospitalization of persons with disabilities and recognize the full legal capacity and procedural standing of persons with disabilities to provide their consent on all issues related to their health, including procedures to ensure informed decisions;
(b) Conduct a comprehensive review of cases in which persons with disabilities have not consented to hospitalization to ensure that they are discharged;
(c) Recognize the open letter of June 2021 adopted by the Committee and the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities and, in its future participation in any process to draft an additional protocol to or recommendation on the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine, aim to move away from coercive measures and build up a non-coercive framework on mental health, as required under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (art. 15)
30.The Committee is concerned about:
(a)The persistent violation of rights of persons with disabilities in places of detention and the lack of effective mechanisms for the prevention and investigation of these cases. It is also concerned about the lack of comprehensive policies ensuring accessibility in detention facilities;
(b)Cases of violations of the rights of women and children with disabilities still segregated in institutions, including mistreatment, coercion, invasive gynaecological examinations, as well as cases of forced medication.
31. The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Ensure compliance with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) with regard to accessibility for persons with disabilities in places of detention, and investigate all allegations of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in accordance with the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Optional Protocol thereto, ensuring that victims of such violations receive comprehensive reparations;
(b) In close consultation with and with the active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, establish mechanisms for the periodic evaluation of institutions still housing persons with disabilities, completely stop coercion, including ensuring that those affected can file complaints, refer perpetrators to the judicial system and provide comprehensive reparations to victims.
Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse (art. 16)
32.The Committee is concerned about:
(a)The increase in the number of cases of gender-based violence and domestic violence, and trafficking of women and girls with disabilities – particularly of those with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities – as well as the increase in the number of women and girls who have acquired an impairment during the conflict;
(b)The prevalence of exploitation, violence and abuse against children and adults with disabilities, in particular women and girls with disabilities, as well as the increase in gender-based violence and the heightened risk of sexual violence and trafficking;
(c)The lack of accessible complaints mechanisms and places of refuge for persons with disabilities and the fact that shelters are not accessible, either physically or in terms of information and communication, particularly for women and girls with disabilities;
(d)The lack of a disability perspective in projects and programmes to avoid and sanction gender-based violence;
(e)The lack of comprehensive data and information on complaint mechanisms for victims.
33. The Committee recalls its previous recommendations, its statement of 25 November 2021 on the elimination of gender-based violence against women and girls with disabilities, and targets 5.1, 5.2 and 5.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals, and recommends that the State party:
(a) Investigate cases of gender-based violence and implement gender ‑ intersectional policies to address these cases, providing comprehensive attention to all, including women who have acquired an impairment in the context of the armed conflict;
(b) Investigate and implement measures to prevent, punish and redress the increase in domestic violence, exploitation, abuse and trafficking;
(c) Establish adequate mechanisms so that persons with disabilities, especially women and children facing violence of any kind, have access to immediate protection and support services and are able to file complaints, including resources for follow-up and restorative measures;
(d) Ensure that projects and programmes against gender-based violence include the human rights model of disability;
(e) Implement the actions necessary to collect disaggregated data on cases of violence against women and children with disabilities;
(f) Ensure compliance with the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.
Protecting the integrity of the person (art. 17)
34.The Committee notes the legal amendments adopted in 2017 that abolished forced sterilization, including of persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities. However, it remains concerned about the administration of contraceptives without consent to women with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities who are still resident in long-term care facilities, including by coercion and threats.
35. The Committee recommends that the State party implement mechanisms to immediately stop the forced contraception of persons with disabilities and that it opens investigations into these cases, sanctions perpetrators and provides victims with comprehensive reparations.
Liberty of movement and nationality (art. 18)
36.The Committee is concerned about:
(a)The lack of comprehensive and reliable disaggregated data on internally displaced persons with disabilities, as well as the lack of information on their access to social and other entitlements;
(b)The lack of information on whether the number of border crossings has been increased, including accessible crossings for persons with disabilities;
(c)Persistent difficulties in the provision of assistance to persons with disabilities who remain in occupied territories.
37. The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Collect information and statistical data on internally displaced persons with disabilities, disaggregated by age, sex, gender, ethnic origin and other sociodemographic relevant characteristics, including information on where they are currently living, their living conditions and the support provided to them;
(b) Take measures to provide information on border crossings by persons with disabilities and whether those crossings are accessible and, as far as possible, ensure additional pedestrian crossings that are accessible to them;
(c) Continue to increase actions to provide humanitarian aid to persons with disabilities in occupied territories.
Living independently and being included in the community (art. 19)
38.The Committee notes that the State party is in the process of developing an action plan for the implementation of the first stage of the national strategy for the reform of institutional care and education of children for 2017–2026, as well as the strategy for reforming psychoneurological, other residential institutions and deinstitutionalization of care for persons with disabilities and older persons, both to be adopted in the last quarter of 2024. However, it notes with concern that the State party:
(a)Has not implemented the national strategy for the reform of institutional care and education of children for 2017–2026 and its associated action plan for the implementation of the first stage;
(b)Continues to operate small groups for children with disabilities called “family‑type orphanages”, which are still institutions and which are contrary to the provisions of the Convention;
(c)Has not applied a moratorium on new admissions to institutions;
(d)Continues to allocate private and international recovery and cooperation funds for the construction of new psychiatric institutions, for instance, in the Zakarpattia Province, by rebuilding the Mukachevo institution for girls within the last three months, which included a United Nations Development Programme plaque indicating that some equipment in the newly reconstructed building had been procured with its funds;
(e)Has failed to ensure that persons with disabilities forced to flee to third countries are not institutionalized;
(f)Is not providing accessible housing to internally displaced persons with disabilities.
39. Recalling its general comment No. 5 (2017) on living independently and being included in the community and its guidelines on deinstitutionalization, including in emergencies, the Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Ensure the implementation of national plans and policies on deinstitutionalization of children and adults with disabilities, with the prior consultation and active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations;
(b) Apply a moratorium on the admission of persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, to all institutions, while implementing deinstitutionalization programmes;
(c) Avoid the transfer of persons segregated in large centres to group homes, as those are still institutions;
(d) End all forms of institutionalization based on impairment, including by ensuring that private and international recovery and cooperation funds are not used to rebuild or refurbish institutions;
(e) Adopt a comprehensive strategy and action plan to transition from using institutions to developing individualized support for living in the community, including personal assistance and community-based support and networks. The State party should expressly include boarding schools for children with disabilities in its deinstitutionalization reforms;
(f) Suspend any inter-State agreements that perpetuate institutionalization of persons with disabilities forced to flee Ukraine;
(g) Establish a national policy ensuring accessible housing for internally displaced persons with disabilities in community-based environments.
Personal mobility (art. 20)
40.The Committee is concerned about the lack of a comprehensive strategy and plan to provide timely assistive technology aids to persons with cognitive, communication, hearing, mobility and visual impairments in urban and rural areas and conflict-affected territories.
41. The Committee recommends that the State party adopt a comprehensive strategy and plan to ensure timely access by all persons with disabilities, in particular those with disabilities living in the conflict-affected territories, to quality mobility aids and devices, assistive technologies and all forms of live assistance, including by making them available at an affordable cost.
Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information (art. 21)
42.The Committee notes with concern:
(a)That Ukrainian sign language has not yet been officially recognized by the State party;
(b)The lack of measures to ensure that all public information, including on health, emergencies, security and protection, is available in modes and formats that are accessible, especially to blind persons, deafblind persons and persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities;
(c)The insufficient number of sign language interpreters for the users of public services, including in the judicial system, health facilities and television broadcasting.
43. The Committee recommends that the State party, in close consultation with and with the active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations:
(a) Recognize Ukrainian sign language as an official language and adopt capacity-building programmes, including the training of sign language interpreters, ensure their availability in sufficient numbers and promote the use of sign language to entities that provide services to the public, including through the Internet and mass media;
(b) Increase the provision of accessible information and communication formats and technologies for persons with disabilities, including Internet accessibility, sign language, subtitles, Braille, Easy Read, plain language, and tactile, augmentative and alternative means of communication, in relation to all public services, giving special attention to access to information and communication by persons with disabilities in conflict zones.
Respect for privacy (art. 22)
44.The Committee is concerned about:
(a)The processing, under martial law, of sensitive and high-risk data related to court convictions, counter-intelligence activity and the fight against terrorism;
(b)The absence of comprehensive provisions on the protection of personal data and records of persons with disabilities, including in health-related situations.
45. The Committee recommends that the State party adopt legislation and protocols to protect the privacy of personal data, and information on the health and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others, and to prohibit arbitrary and unlawful interference with their privacy and families.
Respect for home and the family (art. 23)
46.The Committee notes with concern that:
(a)The legal framework of the State party (articles 24 and 39 of the Family Code) sets forth that marriage with a person deprived of their legal capacity is void and its registration invalid;
(b)The State party does not ensure the right of persons with disabilities to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children and to have access to age‑appropriate reproductive and family planning information and education;
(c)During the conflict, children and older persons with disabilities are involuntary displaced and separated from their parents, families and friends, without official records of such cases being kept. That practice amounts to a relocation of orphaned children, adults and older persons with disabilities from one institution to another.
47. The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Repeal articles 24 and 39 of the Family Code, and all other regulations that discriminate against persons with disabilities in matters relating to marriage, the family, parenthood and relationships, and fully recognize the legal capacity of all persons with disabilities to enter into marriage, adopt or have children, form a family and have access to related information on an equal basis with others;
(b) Guarantee respect for the right to sexual and reproductive health of persons with disabilities and ensure that the necessary conditions are in place to enforce that right, including the right to retain fertility, especially by women and girls with disabilities;
(c) Provide the parents of children with disabilities with the necessary information and support to raise their children in the most appropriate and supportive way, including by providing financial support and personal assistants;
(d) Adopt measures to ensure that children and older persons with disabilities are not separated from their parents, families and friends against their will, and ensure access to alternative care in situations in which the immediate family is unable to care for them.
Education (art. 24)
48.The Committee notes with concern:
(a)That the State party has not eliminated segregated schools as an educational model;
(b)That the National Strategy for Inclusive Education until 2029 and the corresponding operational plan for 2024–2026 do not set forth a comprehensive inclusive education strategy that guarantees the right to education for persons with disabilities, in particular children with disabilities and internally displaced persons with disabilities;
(c)The frequent unavailability of education for children with disabilities in residential institutions;
(d)That online learning for children with disabilities has not been accessible and inclusive on account of limited access, insufficient resources, inadequate teacher training and societal biases that continue to contribute to the exclusion of children with disabilities from educational settings;
(e)The lack of measures to ensure reasonable accommodation and individualized support provided upon request in all education settings;
(f)The lack of comprehensive implementation of article 7 of the Law on Education (No. 2145-VIII) that grants deaf persons the right to be taught in sign language and to learn Ukrainian sign language, as well as a lack of official data on the recipients of this right;
(g)The lack of social interaction, curricula and programmes for students with and without disabilities to obtain direct experiences of human diversity, tolerant behaviour and building communication skills.
49. Recalling its general comment No. 4 (2016) on the right to inclusive education, and targets 4.5 and 4.a of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Committee recommends that the State party, in close consultation with and with the active involvement of organizations of persons with disabilities, learners with disabilities and their families:
(a) Ensure that children with disabilities are not excluded from free and compulsory primary and secondary education in the communities in which they live;
(b) Guarantee reasonable accommodation in education and a high level of individualized support for persons that require it, and establish action plans to eliminate information and communication barriers in online schooling platforms;
(c) Implement article 7 of the Law on Education and facilitate the learning of Braille, alternative scripts, augmentative and alternative models, means and formats of communication, orientation and mobility skills, as well as facilitate peer support and mentoring in school settings at all levels;
(d) Take appropriate measures to employ teachers, including teachers with disabilities, who are qualified in sign language and/or Braille, and train professionals and staff who work at all levels of education, including in online school platforms;
(e) Adopt measures to facilitate the learning of Ukrainian sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the deaf community;
(f) Ensure social interaction, as well as curricular programmes, for students with and without disabilities to obtain direct experiences of human diversity, tolerant behaviour and building communication skills. Refrain from building special schools for children with disabilities and any other form of institution that perpetuates their segregation and adopt comprehensive measures to implement an inclusive education strategy that considers the thoughts and opinions of all parents and students with disabilities;
(g) Adopt methods and allocate the necessary resources to accurately track and report the enrolment of children with disabilities in kindergartens and schools.
Health (art. 25)
50.The Committee is concerned about:
(a)The insufficient measures to provide adequate, affordable and accessible healthcare for persons with disabilities, including in conflict areas and for internally displaced, refugee and asylum-seeking children and adults, and those in refugee-like situations, with disabilities, as well as in rural and remote territories;
(b)The lack of healthcare and programmes on sexual and reproductive health for persons with disabilities, especially women and girls with disabilities, and those with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities who are still in long-term care facilities;
(c)The lack of clear regulations and resources to provide quality healthcare and services for residents who were evacuated, which has led to overcrowding in the new structures hosting the evacuees, and the fact that the State party has not guaranteed sufficient staffing in these new facilities;
(d)The lack of measures to provide adequate, affordable and accessible healthcare for persons affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine, as well as for internally displaced, refugee and asylum-seeking children and adults with disabilities;
(e)The lack of availability and quality of medical care in the rural territories of Donetsk Province;
(f)Order No. 1018-r of 27 December 2017 of the Cabinet of Ministers, in which the Cabinet approved the concept for the development of mental healthcare in Ukraine for the period until 2030, which is not aligned with the Convention.
51. Recalling the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, the Guidelines on the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action, the report on the human rights protection of older persons in emergency situations by the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, targets 3.7 and 3.8 of the Sustainable Development Goals and the guidelines on deinstitutionalization, including in emergencies, the Committee recommends that the State party, in close consultation with and with the active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations:
(a) Adopt measures to ensure adequate, affordable and accessible healthcare for persons with disabilities, including those affected by the conflict in Ukraine, in rural territories of Donetsk Province, as well as internally displaced, refugee and asylum ‑ seeking children and adults with disabilities;
(b) Take all appropriate measures to ensure that access to health services for persons with disabilities are accessible (including medical equipment and health-related information) and gender-responsive;
(c) Develop effective campaigns to educate medical professionals, healthcare providers and medical staff on the rights of persons with disabilities and accessible forms of communication for users of healthcare services;
(d) Take measures to amend Order No. 1018-r of the Cabinet of Ministers so as to harmonize the concept of mental healthcare with the Convention.
Habilitation and rehabilitation (art. 26)
52.The Committee notes that the State party developed multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams and approved a procedure for the provision of assistive devices in specialized offices at inpatient healthcare facilities. However, the Committee notes with concern:
(a)The lack of comprehensive and functioning State facilities for habilitation and rehabilitation;
(b)That the assessment of requirements for assistive devices conducted by multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams excludes the involvement of persons with disabilities;
(c)The lack of a coherent universal system of health and social rehabilitation for persons with disabilities and inadequate budgetary allocations, resulting in an insufficient number of health and social rehabilitation centres with professionally trained staff, as well as in the unavailability of services, especially in rural and remote areas.
53. Recalling the link between article 26 of the Convention and targets 3.7 and 3.8 of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Take comprehensive measures to ensure the involvement of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in the multidisciplinary assessment process of individual requirements in relation to habilitation and rehabilitation;
(b) Establish a coherent universal system of health and social rehabilitation for persons with disabilities and ensure that rehabilitation centres have sufficient budgetary resources and trained personnel, both in urban and rural areas, to provide services to all persons with disabilities;
(c) Ensure the availability, knowledge and use of assistive devices and technologies in relation to habilitation and rehabilitation designed for persons with disabilities in response, recovery and post-conflict policies and projects.
Work and employment (art. 27)
54.The Committee is concerned about:
(a)The low rate of employment of persons with disabilities, including internally displaced persons with disabilities (as confirmed by the monitoring of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights on the right to work of persons with disabilities (dated 2019)), and that important obstacles persist;
(b)Discriminatory practices in obtaining credit, borrowing and insurance, the lack of adequate monitoring of the duration of employment of persons with disabilities, as well as the lack of comprehensive legislation to promote accessible workplaces for persons with disabilities and to protect them from all forms of discrimination;
(c)The insufficient measures and policies to promote employability and inclusive workplaces in the Labour Code and the lack of implementation of article 24 of the Law on Employment (No. 5067-VI of 5 July 2012) regarding the promotion of work for unemployed internally displaced persons, including persons with disabilities;
(d)The draft law on ensuring the right to work of persons with disabilities (No. 5344-d), which is not aligned with the Convention;
(e)The lack of consultation and active involvement of persons with disabilities in the formulation of plans and programmes for their inclusion in the open labour market.
55. Recalling its general comment No. 8 (2022) and target 8.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Committee recommends that the State party, in close consultation with and with the active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations:
(a) Establish a comprehensive strategy to increase the rate of employment of persons with disabilities, including internally displaced persons with disabilities, as well as an oversight mechanism to monitor its effectiveness;
(b) Adopt the measures necessary to prohibit discrimination on the basis of impairment with regard to all matters concerning all forms of employment, including conditions of recruitment, hiring and employment, continuation of employment, career advancement and safe and healthy working conditions, as well as provisions to promote accessibility in the workplace;
(c) Amend the Labour Code to include provisions that promote the employability of persons with disabilities and inclusive workplaces, as well as to ensure implementation of article 24 of the Law on Employment as a means to ensure the right to work of internally displaced persons, including persons with disabilities;
(d) Include in its Labour Code provisions to promote inclusive workplaces, to protect persons with disabilities against all forms of discrimination in the workplace and to provide assistance in performing work, in particular persons with greater support requirements, persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities and women with disabilities;
(e) Ensure that the inputs and views of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, are incorporated into the discussion on the draft law on ensuring the right to work of persons with disabilities and any other relevant legislation to guarantee the right to work and employment of persons with disabilities, and ensure that such laws are fully compatible with the Convention.
Adequate standard of living and social protection (art. 28)
56.The Committee notes with concern:
(a)That most persons with disabilities live below the poverty line;
(b)The difficulties that persons with disabilities face in accessing their social entitlements, including the fact that they are required to navigate a cumbersome online procedure or register as displaced persons to access their pensions, that the State party does not allow pensioners to appoint representatives to collect their pensions, as other citizens are entitled to do, and that the Pension Fund and social protection agencies do not operate in occupied territories;
(c)The lack of access to essential items and the elevated level of food insecurity for persons with disabilities, including older persons, women and children with disabilities living in conflict-affected territories;
(d)Failure to guarantee complete access to the social benefits top-up cash assistance programme by persons with disabilities living in conflict-affected territories, in particular older persons, women and children with disabilities, as well as persons with disabilities subject to multiple and/or intersecting discrimination.
57. Recalling the links between article 28 of the Convention and target 10.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which seek to empower and to promote the economic inclusion of all persons, irrespective of disability status, as well as the guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights, according to which States must ensure that people, especially vulnerable groups, are not in a situation of poverty and have the necessary resources to enjoy their rights, the Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Develop a strategy to counter and prevent persons with disabilities from living in poverty or extreme poverty, and ensure the involvement of organizations of persons with disabilities in the development of policies and programmes geared towards alleviating extreme poverty and deprivation among persons with disabilities;
(b) Establish mechanisms, including accessible transportation, personal assistants and representatives, to ensure that persons with disabilities, including those in occupied territories, can access their pensions;
(c) Ensure access to an adequate standard of living for persons with disabilities and their families, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions, as well as take steps to safeguard and promote the realization of this right without discrimination on the basis of disability;
(d) Adopt specific measures to ensure access to the social benefits top-up cash assistance programme for persons living in conflict-affected territories, in particular, older persons, women and children with disabilities, as well as persons with disabilities subject to multiple and/or intersecting discrimination;
(e) Develop effective procedures to ensure that the payment of pensions to persons with disabilities is agile, fast, efficient and accessible.
Participation in political and public life (art. 29)
58.The Committee notes with concern:
(a)That article 36 of the State party’s Constitution contains an exceptional condition pertaining to the right to vote and article 7 (2) of the Electoral Code prohibits a citizen who has been declared incapacitated by a court from voting;
(b)A lack of comprehensive measures to ensure voting procedures, facilities and materials are appropriate, accessible and easy to understand and use.
59. The Committee recommends that the State party, in close consultation with and with the active involvement of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations:
(a) Amend article 36 of its Constitution, repeal article 7 (2) of the Electoral Code and adopt measures to guarantee that all persons with disabilities can exercise their political rights on an equal basis with others;
(b) Adopt comprehensive measures to ensure that persons with disabilities participate effectively and fully in political and public life on an equal basis with others and directly or through freely chosen representatives, and voting procedures, facilities and materials are appropriate, accessible and easy to understand and use.
Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport (art. 30)
60.The Committee notes with concern:
(a)The lack of a national plan with specific targets and a timeline for the implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled;
(b)The lack of comprehensive measures to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy access to cultural materials, television programmes, films, theatre and other cultural activities, in accessible formats, as well as access to places for cultural performances or services, such as theatres, museums, cinemas, libraries, and tourism and sport services;
(c)The lack of measures to ensure that children with disabilities can participate, on an equal basis with other children, in play, recreation and leisure and sporting activities, including activities in the school system.
61. The Committee recommends that the State party, in close consultation with and with the active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations:
(a) Swiftly implement the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled;
(b) Expand the scope of its legislation on the rights of persons with disabilities with the aim of enabling children with disabilities to participate in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport;
(c) Ensure that persons with disabilities can access cultural materials, television programmes, museums, libraries, films, theatre and other cultural activities, in accessible formats, and participate in cultural life as playwrights, producers, actors, librarians and other relevant roles;
(d) Prohibit discrimination of children with disabilities and ensure, on an equal basis with other children, their participation in play, recreation, leisure and sporting activities, including activities in the school system.
C.Specific obligations (arts. 31–33)
Statistics and data collection (art. 31)
62.The Committee is concerned about:
(a)The lack of a comprehensive system to collect disaggregated data, and unified indicators across the State party concerning the human rights of persons with disabilities and the identification of barriers to exercising them, as well as the lack of involvement of persons with disabilities in designing data collection systems in the area of disability;
(b)The lack of information related to the armed conflict, including persons who acquired a conflict-related disability, persons with disabilities who have died in that context, persons with disabilities who are internally displaced, refugees and asylum-seekers, including those living outside formal camps or resettlement areas and those in refugee-like situations;
(c)The delay in the introduction of the Washington Group short set of questions on functioning.
63. The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Promote inclusivity and improve disability data collection systems, with data disaggregated by age, sex, gender, ethnicity, urban or rural location and migrant, refugee or asylum-seeking status, including by using the Washington Group short set of questions on functioning;
(b) Implement the disability policy marker on the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development;
(c) Develop statistics related to persons with disabilities in conflict-affected areas, disaggregated by age, sex, gender, ethnicity, urban or rural location and migrant, refugee or asylum-seeking status.
International cooperation (art. 32)
64.The Committee is concerned that:
(a)Development, post-conflict and recovery projects, including those carried out in partnership with international, regional and local organizations, have not mainstreamed disability nor consulted with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations;
(b)The lack of close consultation and active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, in the supervision of the implementation and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals;
(c)Recovery and post-conflict projects prioritize economic recovery and do not address the inequalities exacerbated in the context of conflict and the reduction of social expenditure to realize the rights of persons with disabilities.
65. The Committee recalls the recommendations issued by the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights calling upon Governments to move away from an economy driven by the search for maximizing profits to a human rights economy, that is, from a focus on increasing levels of production and consumption to one on producing more socially useful and ecologically sustainable goods and services , which is also encompassed in the maxim of “ build back better, leave no one behind ” . It recommends that the State party:
(a) Adopt a harmonized policy on disability-inclusive development and mainstream the rights of persons with disabilities into its international cooperation policies and programmes, especially those related to recovery and post-conflict;
(b) Develop mechanisms so that persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, can participate in the supervision of the implementation and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals;
(c) Implement reconstruction, development and recovery projects under a human rights economy, which does not increase inequalities and lead to the reduction of social expenditure to realize the rights of persons with disabilities;
(d) Ensure the close consultation and active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, including organizations of women with disabilities, during all stages of the peace continuum, including conflict prevention, resolution, reconciliation, reconstruction and peacebuilding, in measures to address the root causes of conflict and in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security, as well as mechanisms to prevent and redress human rights violations and abuses.
National implementation and monitoring (art. 33)
66.The Committee is concerned about:
(a)The lack of effective coordination of all relevant ministries to ensure the implementation of the Convention, its monitoring and evaluation, as well as the lack of active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, to the same end;
(b)The absence of an independent mechanism to monitor the implementation of the Convention and the lack of indicators aligned with the Convention.
67. The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Improve coordination for the implementation of the Convention across sectors and levels of government, and develop indicators aligned with the Convention to properly promote, implement and monitor its implementation with the active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations;
(b) Establish an independent monitoring framework, in accordance with article 33 (2) of the Convention, including, among its mechanisms, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights in the role of national human rights institution that is compliant with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles), and allocate sufficient human, technical and financial resources for the Commissioner to perform the requisite functions, including in conflict-affected areas;
(c) Ensure that persons with disabilities and their representative organizations participate in monitoring processes, including on the situation of persons with disabilities in conflict-affected areas.
V.Follow-up
Dissemination of information
68. The Committee emphasizes the importance of all the recommendations contained in the present concluding observations. With regard to urgent measures that must be taken, the Committee would like to draw the State party ’ s attention to the recommendations contained in paragraphs 23, on situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies, 37, on liberty of movement and nationality, and 39, on living independently and being included in the community.
69. The Committee requests the State party to implement the recommendations contained in the present concluding observations. It recommends that the State party transmit the concluding observations for consideration and action to members of the Government and Parliament, officials in relevant ministries and local authorities and members of relevant professional groups, such as education, medical and legal professionals, as well as to the media, using modern social communication strategies.
70. The Committee strongly encourages the State party to involve civil society organizations, in particular organizations of persons with disabilities, in the preparation of its periodic report.
71. The Committee requests the State party to disseminate the present concluding observations widely, including to non-governmental organizations and organizations of persons with disabilities, and to persons with disabilities themselves and members of their families, in national and minority languages, including sign language, and in accessible formats, including Easy Read, and to make them available on the government website on human rights.
Next periodic report
72. Under the simplified reporting procedure, the Committee will transmit to the State party a list of issues prior to reporting at least one year prior to 4 March 2032, the date by which the State party ’ s combined fourth to sixth periodic reports are due. The replies of the State party to that list of issues will constitute its combined fourth to sixth periodic reports.