The issue of supporting male and female veterans is increasingly becoming part of the European agenda. This very topic was dedicated to the joint hearing of the Subcommittee on Disability, Multiple and Intersectional Discrimination and the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
The meeting was opened and chaired by Mariia Mezentseva-Fedorenko, Head of the Permanent Delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Chair of the PACE Subcommittee on Disability, Multiple and Intersectional Discrimination. The discussion was joined by Nataliia Kalmykova, Minister for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine; Ruslan Topchan, Accessibility Ambassador of the Ministry for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine and Expert of the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine; Kateryna Pryimak, Co-founder and Head of the "Veteranka" Movement; Olha Rudnieva, Head of the Superhumans Center; and Dzvenyslava Rymar, a veteran and active officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
At the center of the discussion was the question of how to ensure a dignified return to civilian life for those who defend Ukraine and European democratic values. The Ukrainian participants presented approaches that are already being shaped today in the context of full-scale war and can serve as an important benchmark for European policies in rehabilitation, accessibility, and social integration.
It was specially emphasized that modern veteran policy extends far beyond medical care. It encompasses infrastructure accessibility, employment, education, psychological support, civic participation, and the creation of conditions in which male and female veterans can fully realize their potential after service.
An important place in the discussion was given to the role of families, who often serve as the main pillar of support during veterans' recovery and adaptation. Attention was also paid to the necessity of taking into account the experiences of female service members and veterans when formulating state policies and support programs.
Ruslan Topchan shared his personal experience of rehabilitation following an injury and spoke about the importance of the "peer-to-peer" principle, which helps veterans navigate the complex journey of recovery through the support of those who have undergone similar experiences. Dzvenyslava Rymar highlighted the growing role of women in the security and defense sector and the need to properly account for their experience after completing their service.
During the hearing, the Ukrainian side stressed that support for veterans must become an integral component of international programs for Ukraine's recovery. The issue of further developing cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe regarding the protection of the rights of veterans and veterans with disabilities was also raised.
Ukraine's experience, forged under conditions of war, is making a vital contribution today to the broader European dialogue on inclusivity, human dignity, societal resilience, and state responsibility toward those who defend it.