UNDP: Government websites enhancing web accessibility

According to a monitoring study conducted by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, funded by Sweden, the level of web accessibility on government websites is gradually increasing. The study, from the end of 2022 to the beginning of 2023, examined the essential accessibility of 100 government web resources.

The study identified the top five accessibility problems commonly encountered on government websites. These issues include the absence of a mechanism for quick navigation to the main content, low text contrast, lack of a visible focus indicator during keyboard navigation, improper hyperlinks text, and page code errors.

A specialised methodology was developed for the government institutions involved in the research to empower developers and administrators of these websites to independently identify and rectify accessibility issues without significant reliance on third-party technical assistance.

During the presentation of the study, Mstyslav Banik, the head of Digital Services Development at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, said, ‘It’s important for us that all Ukrainians without exception can use Diia — and all state electronic services in general. We believe that in a digital state, access to information, public services, and access to the officials themselves should not be limited by anything.

Reiterating her remarks, Tetiana Lomakina, Advisor and Presidential Commissioner for a Barrier-Free Environment said, ‘The war showed us that it’s important to have all documents digitised and to have government services available online. Now, we need to make them accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities’.