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Ukraine’s forgotten victims: Roma with disabilities in wartime

23 January 2025

Roma with disabilities are one of the most marginalized groups in Ukrainian society. As the Russo-Ukrainian War wages on, this marginalization has only become further entrenched. Despite this, there remains a major dearth of data on and attention given to their situation. This report offers first-hand information on the pervasive neglect suffered by Roma with disabilities in Ukraine gathered by local NGO, International Charitable Organization Roma Women’s Fund Chiricli, their recommendations for addressing this neglect, as well as insights into their work with local, national and international institutions regarding the protection of the rights of Roma with disabilities.

Ukraine’s forgotten victims offers essential insights into the living conditions, health needs and socioeconomic status of Roma with disabilities in Ukraine. It exposes how, due to persistent societal discrimination and stereotyping, Roma with disabilities have been largely forgotten in humanitarian relief efforts and social services. The combination of this discrimination and their poor economic status (itself a consequence of discrimination), has presented a major barrier for Roma with disabilities to access the benefits and relief to which they should be entitled.

This report sounds an urgent call: more must be done to ensure that Roma with disabilities in Ukraine are reached by wartime relief and regular social welfare systems alike. In all likelihood, this situation has undoubtedly already worsened since the research was carried out.

Download the monitoring report
Download an additional briefing