Rights of Ukrainians with Disabilities in Italy: CNAUI Submits a Landmark Petition

The National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy stands up for the rights of Ukrainians with disabilities: petition No. 1584 read out in the Italian Senate

On 15 December 2025 petition No. 1584, submitted by Lara Levchun, President of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy APS, was read out in the Senate of the Italian Republic.
The petition calls for urgent measures to protect children with disabilities who are war refugees, asylum seekers or beneficiaries of international protection.
It was announced during sitting No. 369 and then referred to the 1st (Constitutional Affairs) and 3rd (Foreign Affairs and Defence) Committees sitting jointly.

This is an important step, and it confirms that
the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy consistently and professionally defends the rights of Ukrainians with disabilities living in Italy.

Why this petition is needed

In Italy the procedure for obtaining international protection can take up to two years, and throughout that time families with children cannot apply for recognition of disability.
This deprives them of:

– financial support
– access to rehabilitation and medical aids
– social services
– the chance to receive the care they need

For children with disabilities, this means a risk to their health and a violation of their basic rights.

The main demands of petition No. 1584

1. Fast, simplified recognition of the status of “minor with a disability”

The petition proposes to:

– carry out a provisional confirmation of disability within 30 days of the application for international protection
– accept the initial application without requiring medical documents straight away
– allow medical certificates to be submitted within 6 months
– register the case automatically on the basis of a statement by the accompanying adult

This would give families access to basic services without years of delay.

2. Removing the income and residency requirements

The petition calls for:

– removing the obligation to submit income documentation that refugees are unable to obtain
– not requiring residency registration (residenza) from people under international protection
– allowing a declaration of domicile (domicilio) to be accepted as a sufficient document

The aim of the petition

The petition seeks to:

– guarantee respect for the rights of children with disabilities
– remove discriminatory barriers
– prevent delays and bureaucratic obstacles
– ensure a humane, inclusive approach to receiving Ukrainian refugees
– provide help to every child, whatever stage their administrative procedure has reached

Professional background

The President of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy, Lara Levchun, has more than 15 years of experience in providing legal support in disability cases.

2010–2021: work at a law firm

– specialisation: disability cases
– preparing court claims
– support through complex administrative procedures

Educational initiatives

In 2023

– a course on migration issues was organised for Ukrainians
– a series of webinars was held on the difficulties of having disability recognised in Italy
– information materials were prepared

Community mobilisation: the “Disability” group and the collection of testimonies

In November 2023 the WhatsApp group “Інвалідність” (Disability) was set up, and today it brings together more than 300 Ukrainians.
The group’s administrator, Natalia Drozdenko, collected the real stories of Ukrainian families who have faced difficulties in having disability recognised.

The materials were prepared together with:

– Oksana Trapani
– coordinator Lina Tsepla

and handed over to representatives of the authorities at the Forum held in Rome on 19 November 2025, organised together with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Italy.

A new stage of cooperation: the Bari Memorandum

Recently, at the international forum “Ukraine – Italy” in Bari, the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Human Rights Union of Persons with Disabilities (President: Oleksandr Vozniuk).

The document sets out the shared position of the two organisations:
protecting the rights of people with disabilities is one of our key moral obligations; it knows no borders and cannot be put off.

The Memorandum opens the way to:

– joining forces in human rights advocacy
– preparing joint appeals to European institutions
– building a system of support for Ukrainians with disabilities both in Italy and in Ukraine

The National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy continues to stand up for the rights of Ukrainians with disabilities, but it is important to remember:
the Ukrainian state also provides information and legal support to its citizens, even beyond the homeland.

Every Ukrainian who finds themselves in a difficult situation has the right to turn to Ukrainian state institutions.
For your appeal to be properly considered, you need to:

– write a formal appeal that clearly describes the problem
– print the document and sign it by hand
– enclose a copy of your passport or another identity document
– send the documents:
– to the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman)
– to the Ombudsman’s representative for the protection of the rights of citizens abroad

An appeal of this kind is an important tool: it allows the state to respond to violations of rights, and citizens to receive the support to which they are fully entitled.

Official website of the Ukrainian Ombudsman

Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman)
Official website

Ukrainians in Italy are not left alone with their problems.
Civil society organisations, human rights bodies and the Ukrainian state together form a system designed to protect the dignity, health and rights of every person, especially those most in need of help.