The National Police of Ukraine has developed methodological recommendations to help police officers effectively interact with people with disabilities.
The handbook, prepared with the assistance of the Council of Europe and in cooperation with Ms Tetiana Lomakina, Advisor-Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Barrier-Free Environment, is available at the link.
“The purpose of this handbook is to support police officers in gaining a deeper understanding of the needs of people with disabilities, preventing misunderstandings, and carrying out their duties more effectively. Ethical communication of police officers is essential as it upholds human rights, fosters public trust, and improves the overall effectiveness of law enforcement”, said Ms Olena Pashchenko, Head of the Barrier-Free Environment Section of the Chief Inspection and Human Rights Compliance Department of the National Police of Ukraine.
The primary goal of the handbook is to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of police officers’ communication, especially in the law enforcement situations. Most importantly, it aims to ensure that people with disabilities can fully exercise their rights and participate in the life of the community as provided by the Constitution of Ukraine and international standards, including the European Social Charter.
“The National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine until 2030 envisages the establishment of the barrier-free environment for all population groups, ensuring equal opportunities for everyone to exercise their rights and access services on an equal footing with others. It should be achieved by integrating physical, information, digital, social and civic, economic, and educational accessibility into all areas of state policy. Police officers, as representatives of the state, must we aware of legal provisions for ensuring the rights of people with disabilities, as well as possess effective communication skills to provide barrier-free services," noted Tetiana Lomakina, Advisor - Commissioner of the President of Ukraine on Barrier-Free Environment.
The handbook provides fundamental communication principles, including how to demonstrate respect, use clear and simple language. It also contains clear advice on how to communicate with people with visual, hearing, or cognitive impairments. It also offers recommendations for ensuring access to police services and facilities. Additionally, the handbook outlines practical scenarios that officers may encounter when interacting with people with disabilities. In particular, when lodging complaints or reports on offenses, as well as the nuances of drawing up protocols in the event of administrative detention.
The handbook is also available on the portal for advanced training of police officers, as well as on the official website of the National Police of Ukraine.
The initiative was implemented within the framework of the Council of Europe project “Enhanced social protection in Ukraine” which is being implemented within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” for 2023-2026, with the aim of improving social protection for vulnerable groups, particularly those affected by the war
