For the first time in the history of independent Ukraine, the full text of the Basic Law — the Constitution of Ukraine — has been translated into Ukrainian Sign Language!
From now on, the fundamental agreement between Ukraine and the Ukrainian people is available in the native language of those Ukrainians for whom it had previously remained not entirely clear.
The non-governmental organization “Public Movement "Social Unity,” in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, initiated the project, and to ensure its successful implementation, the organization has assembled a strong team of experts and partners to support the project.
Translation specialists from the Ukrainian Sign Language Association (USL) from across Ukraine — who work in television, educational institutions, non-governmenta organizations, government agencies, and other fields — joined the project. Each translator contributed their professional experience and deep understanding of the nuances of Ukrainian Sign Language to the project.
This project has been both a challenge and a large-scale, socially significant undertaking for all of us.
We are sincerely grateful to the translators, specialists, and experts in law and Ukrainian Sign Language who selflessly helped bring this project to fruition for the benefit of sign language users in Ukraine.
The team from the Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, led by Aliona Matvieieva, served as a partner and like-minded collaborator on this project. The Secretariat team ensured the necessary government support, as well as the implementation and official publication on the Verkhovna Rada’s website of the text of the Constitution of Ukraine in sign language in a separate section.
We are very grateful to our long-standing partner, PostCode Ukraine, and to Yulia Kuznetsova for sharing our vision and plans and for helping us bring them to life year after year.
We would also like to thank Kateryna Rufova for providing a cozy space for the shoot and ensuring our comfort throughout the entire filming period — the “Lokatsiya” studio in the “Varshavsky Plus” residential complex.
Tetyana Monich, a makeup artist with extensive experience working on the sets of popular films, was responsible for creating the translators’ on-screen looks.
Protecting and advocating for the rights of people with hearing impairments remains one of the organization’s main areas of focus.
Video translation in USL of the text from the CU:
https://zakonst.rada.gov.ua/docs/constitution/sign-language.html
Document 254k/96-VR, Revised as of January 1, 2020, Basis: 27-IX
The translation of SL was done by:
Angelina Boiko, Olha Rybak, Lada Sokoliuk, Svitlana Kridneva, Nataliia Tovchko, Yurii Tabaka, Ihor Shavro, Nataliia Kiselova, Iryna Tretiak.
Experts involved:
Nataliia Kravtsova, Olena Chernyshova, Nataliia Moskovets.
