Ukraine: stand together to end the war!
The National Assembly of Disabled People of Ukraine (NADP), on behalf of more than 100 organisations in the country, has appealed to all disabled people's organisations to support humanitarian aid.
Appeal to international organisations for people with disabilities
Kyiv, 1 March 2022
Today we see children and women dying in Ukraine; the Russian army is killing our sons, daughters and husbands; it is destroying our cities.
The Russian Federation is conducting hostilities on the territory of our state, in violation of all the principles of international humanitarian law and using methods of warfare that are also prohibited by international humanitarian law.
Every day, Russian troops deliberately fire on the residential areas of our cities; women and children have to spend several days at a time in air raid shelters; captured towns and villages are in trouble because of the lack of water, food and medicine. The invaders prevent civilians, including people with disabilities, from leaving their towns and use them as human shields: they place military vehicles and equipment next to civilian buildings and people's homes.
For many years, people with disabilities from different countries have joined together to fight for their rights. Disabled people's organisations have a lot of experience in defending these rights.
Today, in Ukraine, people with disabilities and organisations of people with disabilities are helping our state and standing with our advocates. Everyone is trying to help as best they can: by preparing meals, working as a dispatcher, delivering medicines, helping in hospitals, providing shelter for internally displaced people, joining the territorial civil defence forces or making Molotov cocktails. Yesterday we received information that a son, father and husband was killed near Kiev while defending his family, his home. He was in a wheelchair but had also joined the defence forces. Our world-class Paralympic athletes have taken up arms. We are united.
We call on you, representatives of disability organisations from different countries, to support us in our fight for peace. We want peace!
We ask you to be our voice in your countries.
You represent different organisations, including former soldiers, peacekeepers, war veterans. You know better than anyone the horrors of war.
Putin and his cabinet must be condemned for the destruction of civilian populations, our towns and villages, and for the examples of brutality committed under their orders. Today, the fate of all countries is at stake.
Support us, spread the truth in your countries, urge your governments to act, because, unfortunately, some countries have still not decided to help Ukraine.
Help us to defend peace in our country.
National Assembly of Disabled People of Ukraine
Kyiv, 1 March 2022
Today we see children and women dying in Ukraine; the Russian army is killing our sons, daughters and husbands; it is destroying our cities.
The Russian Federation is conducting hostilities on the territory of our state, in violation of all the principles of international humanitarian law and using methods of warfare that are also prohibited by international humanitarian law.
Every day, Russian troops deliberately fire on the residential areas of our cities; women and children have to spend several days at a time in air raid shelters; captured towns and villages are in trouble because of the lack of water, food and medicine. The invaders prevent civilians, including people with disabilities, from leaving their towns and use them as human shields: they place military vehicles and equipment next to civilian buildings and people's homes.
For many years, people with disabilities from different countries have joined together to fight for their rights. Disabled people's organisations have a lot of experience in defending these rights.
Today, in Ukraine, people with disabilities and organisations of people with disabilities are helping our state and standing with our advocates. Everyone is trying to help as best they can: by preparing meals, working as a dispatcher, delivering medicines, helping in hospitals, providing shelter for internally displaced people, joining the territorial civil defence forces or making Molotov cocktails. Yesterday we received information that a son, father and husband was killed near Kiev while defending his family, his home. He was in a wheelchair but had also joined the defence forces. Our world-class Paralympic athletes have taken up arms. We are united.
We call on you, representatives of disability organisations from different countries, to support us in our fight for peace. We want peace!
We ask you to be our voice in your countries.
You represent different organisations, including former soldiers, peacekeepers, war veterans. You know better than anyone the horrors of war.
Putin and his cabinet must be condemned for the destruction of civilian populations, our towns and villages, and for the examples of brutality committed under their orders. Today, the fate of all countries is at stake.
Support us, spread the truth in your countries, urge your governments to act, because, unfortunately, some countries have still not decided to help Ukraine.
Help us to defend peace in our country.
National Assembly of Disabled People of Ukraine