Tetiana Barantsova

Tetiana Barantsova (Тетяна Баранцова; born 1973) is a Ukrainian disability rights activist and the founder of Ami-Skhid organisation. 2020 appointed Ukrainian Government Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She was the 2020 European winner of the Nansen Refugee Award.

Early life and education
Barantsova was born in 1973 in Luhansk. She broke her spine at the age of ten years while doing school gymnastics. Graduated from Kyiv National University of Arts and Culture in 2002, and University of Education Management in 2018.

Adult life
Barantsova is a disability rights activist and in 2002 she set up Ami-Skhid non-governmental organisation that helps Ukrainian women, families, and youth with disabilities. The organisation undertakes advocacy and provides counselling and support services to people with disabilities.

In 2014, Barantsova, her husband, and her son were displaced by the Russo-Ukrainian War. Once she reached safety, she set up a phone line to provide advice to people with disabilities who were trapped in the conflict zone, and provided advice, cash, and both legal and psychological support to 5,000 people. Barantsova also set up an online school for internally displaced children, providing education to 1,000 pupils.

In 2008—2020 was working in Luhansk Oblast Centre for the Sociocultural Adaptation of Youth with Physical Disabilities

in 2020, she was the European winner of the Nansen Refugee Award.

As of 2022, she was an advisor to the government of Ukraine. She was appointed Government Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and was working to organize the evacuation abroad of people with disabilities and mobility impaired people from various regions of Ukraine.

Personal life
Barantsova was aged 46 in September 2020. Married to Oleksiy Soroka, with one son.

Awards
On December 4, 2011 awarded Order of Princess Olha, 3rd Class.

in 2020, she was the European winner of the Nansen Refugee Award.