Ukrainian Society of the Deaf

The Ukrainian Society of the Deaf (Ukrainian: Українське товариство глухих, romanized: Ukrayins'ke tovarystvo hlukhykh), abbreviated UTOH or UTOG (Ukrainian: УТОГ) is a Ukrainian non-governmental organisation responsible for promoting the rights of the deaf community in Ukraine. Its stated goal is to serve as "An organisational association of persons with hearing impairments and providing them with assistance in professional, labour, and social rehabilitation, protection of their legal rights and interests, and confirmation of their status as citizens fully integrated into society."[1]

Ukrainian Society of the Deaf
Українське товариство глухих
Formation4 June 1933 (1933-06-04)
TypeNGO
HeadquartersKyiv, Ukraine
Websitehttps://utog.org/

History

The Ukrainian Society of the Deaf was founded by a directive of the All-Ukrainian Central Executive Committee on 4 June 1933, alongside the Ukrainian Association of the Blind (UTOS). Joining the World Federation of the Deaf in 1957, UTOH's existence was confirmed by the 5 October 1992 law of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) "On Citizens' Associations".[1]

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, UTOH's activities were significantly impacted. Along with UTOS, local offices of UTOH received aid, including in Mykolaiv and Kostiantynivka.[2][3]

Activities

UTOH's primary goal, as described on their website, is to serve as "An organisational association of persons with hearing impairments and providing them with assistance in professional, labour, and social rehabilitation, protection of their legal rights and interests, and confirmation of their status as citizens fully integrated into society."[1] Among their activities are searching for deaf persons who have gone missing as a result of the Russo-Ukrainian War,[4] translation of government information into Ukrainian Sign Language,[5] and teaching of Ukrainian Sign Language.[6]

Recognition

UTOH has been recognised as critical to protecting and enhancing the rights of the deaf in Ukraine, particularly in the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The World Federation of the Deaf launched a donation campaign for UTOH in order to assist with operations during the war.[7]

Since 2018, the Government of Ukraine has supplied funding to UTOH and UTOS.[8]

References
  1. "Про УТОГ" [About UTOH]. Ukrainian Society of the Deaf (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  2. Horbatenko, Ihor; Hordiyenko, Oleksandr (31 July 2022). "Привезли допомогу. Волонтери з Буковини роздали миколаївцям 24 тонни бутильованої води" [Help has arrived: Bukovina volunteers distribute 24 tonnes of bottled water to Mykolaiv residents]. Suspilne (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  3. "В Константиновке продолжается выдача гуманитарной помощи" [In Kostiantynivka, humanitarian aid distribution continues]. ZI News Portal (in Russian). 15 April 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  4. "Пошук зниклих глухих України" [Searching for the Missing Deaf of Ukraine]. Ukrainian Society of the Deaf (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  5. "Переклад жестовою мовою" [Sign Language Translation]. Ukrainian Society of the Deaf (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  6. "Українська жестова мова" [Ukrainian Sign Language]. Ukrainian Society of the Deaf (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  7. "Support to rights of deaf people from Ukraine". World Federation of the Deaf. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  8. Groysman, Volodymyr (14 March 2018). "Про затвердження Порядку використання коштів, передбачених у державному бюджеті для фінансової підтримки Українського товариства сліпих та Українського товариства глухих" [On approval of procedure for use of funds provided in the state budget for support of the Ukrainian Association of the Blind and Ukrainian Society of the Deaf]. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 14 August 2022.
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