Three decades ago, Ukraine enshrined in writing what must be inviolable: freedom, equality, dignity, and the protection of every person.
Since then, the Constitution, as a legal document, has served as a social contract between the state and its citizens — the foundation upon which a just society is built. However, any law is effective only when it is understood by those for whom it was written and to whom its provisions apply.
There are over 200,000 people with hearing impairments living in Ukraine, for whom sign language is the primary means of communication. Over the years, Ukrainian Sign Language has continued to develop its own grammar and culture. And a translation of the Constitution for sign language users has never been available — until now.
That is why civil society and the state have joined forces—after all, making the Constitution accessible to every Ukrainian is a shared responsibility and a shared value.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the Constitution of Ukraine, thanks to the joint efforts of the non-governmental organization “Public Movement "Social Unity” together with the Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and partners, a historic step has been taken — for the first time in the country’s history, the full text of the Constitution of Ukraine is available in Ukrainian Sign Language.
This means that every person with a hearing impairment can now:
— understand their rights on an equal footing with people who can understand spoken and written Ukrainian;
— to refer directly to the Constitution at any time;
— to feel like a full-fledged member of a society in which the government speaks in a language that is easy to understand.
This will be a step toward transforming society. It is a recognition of and gives visibility to every member of society!
