On July 4, in Vilnius, with the support of the Council of Europe project "Enhanced Social Protection in Ukraine", bilateral working meetings took place between the Ukrainian delegation and representatives of the Lithuanian authorities to share experiences in the field of social protection.
The delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Fund for the Social Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Coordination Center for the Development of Family Education and Childcare.
During the working meetings, the Ukrainian delegation, accompanied by the project team, visited the Ministry of Social Security and Labor of Lithuania and the Agency for Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The main topics of discussion included the transition from the Soviet to the modern pension system in Lithuania, the legal framework for maternity and parental leave, the issue of social housing, and the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly those with severe disabilities. Additionally, some members of the delegation visited an inclusive school and kindergarten in Vilnius.
Bilateral meetings and exchanges of experience regarding European integration and other significant initiatives of the Lithuanian government in the field of social protection proved to be extremely useful for the Ukrainian delegation. The Lithuanian experience in implementing reforms in this field is relevant for Ukraine both during the war and in the post-war reconstruction period.
These meetings contributed to the establishment of direct contacts with Lithuanian state authorities, which can facilitate further cooperation and interaction between the two countries. The knowledge acquired can be used in policymaking activities, particularly in forming social protection policies, reforming Ukraine's pension system, and introducing Lithuanian practices in matters of physical and social accessibility.
The Council of Europe project "Enhanced social protection in Ukraine" is implemented within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine "Resilience, Recovery, 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.
