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Ukraine appeared before CEDAW in January 2010[1] during the lead up to its presidential election. The delegation was composed of high-level representatives from relevant ministries and had a majority of female members. It used its presentation partly to repeat the State report[2] and written responses, but also some additional information. The Committee thanked the delegation for what it called a comprehensive, detailed, and frank discussion with the Committee.
Among the key issues addressed during the interactive dialogue were: the legal effect of the Convention to take precedence over conflicting domestic laws; capacity building and coordination of different levels of government to deal with gender equality issues; the need to amend the electoral law and to increase the representation of women in high-level positions of government and in international organizations; the existence of stereotypes against women, especially minority women; discrimination against women in employment through positions and wages; the lack of preschool facilities and the need to work with families in order to strengthen responsible fatherhood; insufficient punishment for acts of domestic violence against women; inadequate legislation to prevent human trafficking and the lack of monitoring of agencies suspected of trafficking people lack of shelters to victims of trafficking, and insufficient cooperation on the return of victims; insufficient legal protection of women in unregistered marriages and discrimination against women’s right to property upon divorce; discrimination against and lack of special attention to Roma women and children, especially in obtaining identity documents and access to education; lack of information of the overall situation of women in rural areas; discrimination against elderly women in access to social service centres; difficulties in access to the medical service of abortion; HIV prevention and reduction of maternal transmission, and special education on HIV/AIDS and reproductive health for both boys and girls; the importance of training programs on gender equality in local and central government, judiciaries, schools, social services, police and law enforcement; the need to apply evaluation standards to law enforcement and the State’s programs; the importance of NGOs’ participation in legislative processes, training, and monitoring; and prevention of child labour.
Several Committee members requested the State to incorporate in its next report information on the overall situation of women in rural areas and Roma women. The delegation explained that the Committee’s recommendations will be incorporated in the State’s draft action plan for 2011-2015 and such a draft will be presented to Parliament in the spring of 2010.[3]
session of CEDAW. Reports were submitted by the Women’s Consortium of Ukraine, the Informational-Educational Center “Za Ravnie Prava” and the “Insight” of Ukraine, the European Roma Rights Center and the International Charitable Organization Roma Women Fund “Chiricli”, the Global Initiative to End All Forms of Corporal Punishment of Children, the International Disability Alliance, the International Baby Food Action Network-Geneva Infant Feeding Association, the Ukraine Parliement Commissioner for Human Rights. These reports and the Committee’s concluding observations are available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws45.htm.
[3] The plan will aim to strengthen the leadership of women in political spheres, take into account the different gender cultures of increasing immigrants, cooperate with the national campaign to stop the violence against women, propel the legislation on the prevention of human trafficking, and improve equal access to education by women, especially minority women, and their children.
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