Civil society calls for inclusive Ukraine recovery

At the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk, Poland, CBM and partners urged governments and donors to include persons with disabilities in reconstruction planning.

Meeting with representatives of the Estonian Government to discuss URC Tallinn 2027

Civil society organisations and organisations of persons with disabilities called for a greater role in Ukraine’s recovery at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026, held in Gdańsk, Poland, on 25 and 26 June. 

The conference brought together governments, international organisations, financial institutions and businesses to discuss Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. The agenda focused on infrastructure, investment, security, business and Ukraine’s path toward the European Union integration. 

CBM, CBM Italia, the European Disability Forum, the National Assembly of People with Disabilities, League of the Strong and the Polish Forum of Persons with Disabilities used the meeting to press a central point: Ukraine’s recovery must include the people most affected by the war. 

For persons with disabilities, that means direct participation in decisions on housing, transport, public services, digital systems, health care, education and investment. The partners said inclusion should shape reconstruction from the start. 

Civil society sets out shared priorities

Celebrating the signing of the Gdańsk Declaration for a stronger, smarter and more inclusive recovery of Ukraine

Ahead of the main conference, more than 400 Ukrainian and international civil society leaders  launched the Gdańsk Common Message, developed by more than 200 organisations. 

The message called for recovery efforts to place people and communities at the centre. It also urged governments and donors to recognise civil society as a strategic partner in decision-making, funding priorities and accountability. 

The statement linked Ukraine’s reconstruction with its EU accession process through democratic reforms, transparency and the rule of law. 

A working group made up of CBM, CBM Italia, EDF, NAPD, League of the Strong and PFON advocated for disability inclusion and the rights of persons with disabilities to be reflected in the final message. 

 

Gdańsk Declaration launches at official side event 

At the official side event “Making the Human Dimension Future Proof,” partners discussed accessible housing, inclusive public services, digital accessibility, veteran inclusion, resilient communities and disability-inclusive investment. 

The event brought together representatives of European institutions, governments, business, human rights organisations and civil society. 

At the close of the event, CBM, CBM Italia, EDF, NAPD, League of the Strong and PFON launched the Gdańsk Declaration, titled “Building a Stronger, Smarter and More Inclusive Recovery for Ukraine.” 

The declaration sets out a shared advocacy framework for disability-inclusive recovery. It calls for persons with disabilities and their representative organisations to take part in reconstruction planning, implementation and accountability. 

An official signing ceremony took place at AmberExpo during the conference. The declaration remains open for further endorsements. 

Focus turns to URC 2027 in Tallinn

CBM, CBM Italia, EDF and NAPD also met with Mr. Aleksei Jashin from the Estonian Government to discuss preparations for URC 2027, which Estonia will host in Tallinn. 

The partners called for stronger civil society representation, meaningful speaking opportunities and active participation of organisations of persons with disabilities at next year’s conference. 

They also urged organisers to treat disability inclusion as a cross-cutting issue across the full recovery agenda, including infrastructure, services, employment, technology and investment. 

CBM and partners will continue engagement with Estonian and Ukrainian stakeholders over the coming year. The Gdańsk Declaration will guide this advocacy and support a clear goal: a Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2027 where inclusion shapes the main agenda. 

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