On June 27 in Kyiv, a seminar was held to develop methodological recommendations for barrier-free public services. The event was organized by the NGO "Donetsk Women's Council" in collaboration with the Advisor-Commissioner to the President of Ukraine on Barrier Free Environment, with the support of the Council of Europe project "Enhanced social protection in Ukraine".

Representatives from 10 Ukrainian ministries and other central authorities participated in the event. During the seminar, tools for monitoring and evaluating public services, which are already being implemented by state bodies, were presented. These services include healthcare and rehabilitation, police services and legal protection, social support, hospitality, and media services.

Based on the experiences shared, participants had the opportunity to apply expert recommendations and propose their own solutions for the situations presented. This enabled those state bodies still developing methodologies for ensuring barrier-free services to prepare comprehensive and effective documents.

"Attention to people’s needs should be at the core of all services provided at the state and local levels. The dignity and independence of every individual, regardless of social status, origin, or health condition, are the primary values. All new solutions proposed by the state and community must address the demand for accessibility and barrier-free environments," stated Tetiana Lomakina, Advisor-Commissioner to the President of Ukraine on Barrier-Free Environment, during the event's opening.

The review and improvement of accessibility in public services for citizens are included in the 2024 plan according to the National Barrier-Free Strategy. Public services should become more convenient and accessible for people with disabilities, the elderly, parents with young children, veterans, and other social groups who face barriers in their interacting with the state. The Council of Europe consistently supports the implementation of the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine through 2030 as part of the "Enhanced Social Protection in Ukraine" project.

The Council of Europe project "Enhanced social protection in Ukraine" is implemented within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine "Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction" for 2023-2026. It aims to ensure that persons from vulnerable groups, in particular, the population affected by the war, enjoy a higher level of social rights and social protection.