2007 3(26) - UCWLC

ICW Triennium Conference in KyivBy Dr. Mary PankiwThe 31st General Assembly of theInternational Council of Women(ICW) was held at Ukraine Housein Kyiv, Ukraine last September.The Assembly was attended by293 delegates from 44 countriesand five continents. In keepingwith the theme: “ChallengingGender Equality,” gender issueswere central to the content of thesessions and to every woman.The Assembly commencedwith a city tour and a receptionhosted by Kyiv’s Mayor, LeonidChernovetskiy. Iryna Holubeva,President of the National Councilof Women of Ukraine, officiallyopened the General Assemblywelcoming the delegates and introducedDr. Anamah Tan, ICWPresident from Singapore. Dr.Tan was welcomed in the Ukrainiantraditional manner with apresentation of braided bread andsalt by Ukrainian youth membersin colourful native costumes.The keynote speaker was YurijPavlenko, Minister of Familyand Youth Affairs. He expressedhis strong support for GenderEquality between men and women,and emphasized the importantDid you buy a giftsubscription or two offor your favourite people?For their birthdayor anniversary?Please see page 33.26 Íàøà Äîðîãà îñiíü/2007role of women and their contributions.He referred to the inequalitiesbetween men and women, theaverage salary of women constitutes68.6% of the salary of men,they achieve higher education,and retire five years earlier thanmen. Women are subjected tosexual harassment and mass mediastereotyping. He drew attentionto gender violence. He concludedthat gender problems coexistwith gender inequality andthat discrimination issues againstwomen are being addressed.Five parallel workshops wereheld simultaneously on the followingtopics:• Extreme poverty• Women and Health• Environmental and Water• Trafficking in women• Eradication of discriminationand violence against the girlchildI attended the “Trafficking inwomen” workshop, which highlightedthe topic: “Trafficking inwomen is a serious denial of HumanRights, is widespread in allcountries.” Recommendationsfocused on the need for politicalwill, involvement by internationalpolice forces and government,educational programs for abusivemen and rehabilitation programsfor trafficking victims.The following day, the ICWpassed a Resolution: “Traffickingin Women and Children” andcalled upon members of the NationalCouncils to urge their NationalGovernments to: Reviewand strengthen laws prohibitingtrafficking in persons with a viewto detecting and punishing attemptsto bring in women andchildren for sexual exploitation;implement measures to assistearly discovery of women andchildren brought in for that purpose;provide the means for suchwomen and children to return totheir own families, or resettle in asafe environment.Two Ukrainian women’sseminars were impressive. Themorning seminar addressed thetopic: “Gender Policy in Ukraine:Challenges and Responses.” Issuesconcerning equality betweenmen and women were discussedby the round table participants,which included several Ukrainianwomen who were Deputies ofParliament. Tetyana Kondratyuk,Minister Pavlenko’s Deputy Ministerof Ukraine for Family,Youth, and Sports, reported on“Strategic Directions of GenderTransformations in Ukraine,” andtheir efforts to get more womenelected. Women hold 8% of theseats in Parliament and none inCabinet but expect to do better inthe next election.The afternoon seminar was aworkshop on “Political Empowermentof Women: International andUkrainian Practice.” A member ofa charitable foundation spokeabout women’s organizations andthe role of young women’s organizations.Younger women representativesfrom an informationconsulting centre, a school of equalopportunities that transported interactivetheatre, Natalia Kobrynskaand Kyiv women’s centres, Tavridacentre of gender studies, andthe “First Steps to Success” program,shared their innovative ideas.At the farewell Gala Banquet,President’s Hotel, Dr. AnamahTan introduced First Lady KaterynaYushchenko and thanked herfor being the Honorary Patron. Inresponse, Ukraine’s First Ladyexpressed thanks to ICW thatKyiv was selected to be the site of