The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a draft law that will make television programmes, social advertising and online services more accessible to people with disabilities. The document, developed by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, provides for the mandatory implementation of subtitles, sign language interpretation and audio descriptions (typhlo-commentary) in programmes and content on demand.
The bill also establishes uniform requirements for information accessibility and creates a legal framework for a modern system of access to media content for all viewers, regardless of their physical abilities.
Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture of Ukraine Tetiana Berezhna emphasised that the initiative is aimed at respecting viewers and their needs: “We are working to make content and information more accessible, regardless of circumstances.”
The document also harmonises Ukrainian legislation with European accessibility standards and will be an important step towards creating a barrier-free media space in Ukraine.
The draft law was developed with the participation of experts from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as part of the project “Supporting Inclusive Recovery to Ensure Sustainability and Security for People in Ukraine,” which is being implemented with the financial support of the Government of Japan.
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