November - December 1998 - N. 5
executive director Natalia Encolpio
associate editor Loretta Lorenzini
In this number
Women’s Human Rights in Ukraine
By Olena Suslova
Director of Women’s Information Consultative Center*
Women's Agenda
with the cooperation of the International Women's Tribune Centre, New York
The 10th december 1999 a delegation of Il
Cenacolo, composed by the president Loretta Lorenzini, the vice-president Natalia
Encolpio, Steven Ferguson, Silvia Meneghetti has partecipated, in the United Nations in
New York, at the Special General Assembly fot the Anniversary of the Declaration of the
Human Rights.
Teh ceremony has been opened by a video-conference with
Jacques Chirac, the french president. In the morning Kofi Annan has give the prize to the
men and women, all over the world, who have distinguished themselves for their work on the
issues of the Human Rights. Except for one, former president Jimmy Carter, who did not
attend because he has been involved in monitoring a presidential election in Venezuela,
this years’s winners were internationally unknown people who have learned to wage
often lonely battles for thw rights of ordinary people at the grass roots.
"We are encouraged by this high office acknowledging
what we are doing", said Angelina Acheng Atyam of Uganda, a nurse-midwife in a local
clinic who received on of this year’s awards for fighting to keep children out of the
war. "It gives us strenght".
Angelina Atyam was recognized for trying to stop the
abduction, forced recruitment and sexual abuse of African children by a group called the
Lord’s Resistance Army and other forces in a region engulfed by ware.
Other winners this year were Sunila Abeyesekera of Sri
Lanka, who has worked to safeguard democracy and women’s right in the face of civil
war; Jose Gregori of Brazil, a former student activist against the military who now, under
a democratic Government, heads the National Secretariat for Human Rights, and Anna
Sabatova of the Czech Republic, who was once sent to jail for urging people to vote and
later became e founder of Charta 77, an action organization that led a democratic
resistance to Communism.
In the afternoon, in the Lobby of the General Assembly
Building, it has been presented the Passport for Human Rights of the Children: at the
initiative were present Kofi Annan, Luciano Pavarotti, Michael Douglas, Francesco Mayor
(president of Unesco). Vanessa Redgrave has opened the exhibition realized by Unicef for
the dedicated to the situation of the children in all the countries of the world.
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Women’s Human Rights in Ukraine
By Olena Suslova
Director of Women’s Information Consultative Center*
We celebrated last year 50 Anniversary of
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However how long exist human rights specially
women’s human rights in Ukraine? The tradition of women’s human rights is very
old. Unfortunately it was broken because unfortunate for Ukraine reasons. One of first
written sources of laws in Kyiv Rus was Ruska Pravda (Rus Truth) build and used in XI-XIII
centuries. Rights of women as a citizens was been fulfilled. For example, for woman’s
killing was been same penalty as for man’s. Woman was not limited in her rights, and
in relations with law.
However I don’t persist all
women’s human rights then was been similarly fulfilled. And now, almost one thousand
years later? What kind of Ruska Pravda they have in the legal sphere? The new Constitution
accepted two years ago gives women same rights as a men. However, Article 43 of
Constitution says: "Using of women’s and minor’s work at dangerous for
their health job places is prohibited." In spite of numerous statements of women
against such position in Constitution they are compared to minors.
The discursive irregularity of Constitution
don’t plays such important role for women’s life however it shows low gender
sensitivity of it. For example, Article 24 says: " The equality of men and women is
provided by: giving to women equal with men opportunities in..." If somebody
gives to woman these opportunities then this somebody is... man?!.
National Plan of Actions adopted one year
ago intent to share ideas of Platform for Actions to the governmental sphere and to give
concrete implementation of these ideas in practical life of Ukrainian women. However from
big (in all sense) Platform for Actions we have received very small (in all sense too)
National Plan. We can’t identify either find all 14 sections of Platform for Actions
or to see one - two points on every sections. From 40 points of the national Platform for
Action 6 concerned only on children and 10 - on women, family and children.
Protectionism of legislation and
traditional view on women are base of actual situation in Ukraine.
What we do (I tell about women’s NGOs)
in this situation? Now in Ukraine are working (more or less) about 300 women’s NGOs
however only low percent we could name as a women’s human rights in their activity.
Usually it is education, research, advocacy (decreasing priority from first to last
point).
On education are concerned (more or less)
most of women’s NGO. It could be in form of workshops, round tables, trainings,
sharing of information through publications, booklets etc. Trainings on women’s human
rights, gender equality, prevention of violence against women are very popular in Ukraine.
Started by NIS-US Women’s Consortium and by the Women’s Information Consultative
Center in 1995 they became at effective method of emphasizing on ‘women’s
issues", attractive event because it’s participatory, interactivity and respect
to personal view of every participant. As a following of the idea of raising awareness
about equal rights and gender sensitivity in society was been provided project
"Empowering Education: Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities For Girls and Boys".
Now "Empowering Education" is developing successful in several regions of
Ukraine.
Some Ukrainian NGOs actively works on
prevention of trafficking on women. Most famous is La Strada Ukraine - the branch of
International NGO with same name. Hot line, seminars and conferences, booklets for girls
and women in risk - it is incomplete list of their activity.
Some of organizations working in the area
of women’s human rights have specialization on groups - disabled or aged women,
girls. They represent and advocates their rights and distributes information about the
issue around Ukraine.
What tendency could we note during last
years in this field?
Women’s NGOs are going to work with
concrete specialization whereas earlier they was "omnivorous" in their activity.
Activists of women movement intent to be
more professional therefore they actively participate in different kinds of seminars,
trainings, courses etc. It help them to be equal with other professionals working in other
areas connected with women’s human rights issue.
Women’s NGOs works more closely with
authority as on the local well as on the national level. As an example is opening of the
Women’s Vocational Center in Kyiv as a "common child" of City
Administration and Kyiv NGOs. City Administration gave to women’s organizations and
women of Kyiv the building and made there repairing.
The participation of women in last
elections was not very successful although the number of women in Parliament is increased
in twice.
We hope our intentions and support of
followers will help us to meet new millennium with our rights not only on paper however in
our life.
* Women's Information Consultative Center
It is non-governmental, non-profit organisation. The basic
goal of the Center is to gather, generalize and to disseminate information about women's
organisations activity and women initiatives among women of Ukraine. The Center was
founded in 1995 on the base of the Association Women Economy Unemployment Market.The
activity of the Center is insured by the financial support of the founders, interested
organisations, fees and private donations.
Women's Information Consultative Center
12A/11, Saksaganskogo str., Kyiv, 252033, Ukraine
tel/fax: (38044) 227-07-04
e-mail: [email protected]
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As a member of Nagoya City Women’s
Mission, I had an opportunity to visit Rome and Paris and was very impressed to hear about
many ambitious Italian women.
Italy has always been one of the most
popular destinations for Japanese tourists who love to visit many historic sights and
fashionable shopping areas. I also enjoyed a brief sightseeing tour in Rome, where the old
and the modern coexist.
I know that Italy is not a problem free
country Probably the security in Japan is better than Italy in that ordinary Japanese live
fairly safe life free from fear of mugging, theft or robbery. The unemployment rate in
Japan is currently all time high but it is 4.3%. This figure may not sound so alarming to
Italian people. However, in Japan, labor market is very rigid, which means that once
someone loses a job, it would be extremely difficult to find a decent job especially if
the person is above 35 of age. Older the person is, more difficult it is to find a job due
to seniority system and lifetime employment.
Through my visit to a few of the Italian
organizations both public and private, I was under the impression that empowerment of
women is more advanced in Italy. What interested me most is the program for women
entrepreneurs implemented by Ministry for Equal Opportunity. We heard that this program
was initiated under Prody government in 1996 and by now 516 cases of loan were already
granted, amounting to 40 billion lires and led to the job creation for 3380 people. It is
quite amazing to note that for such a short time, so many people benefited from the
program and as many as 4000 women applied for the loan. We do have some government subsidy
for a similar program in Japan, but it is quite often very time consuming process to
obtain low interest loan offered by the public sector and too little granted.
Regarding the equal opportunity for men and
women, a lot needs to be done before it is fully realized in Japan. As you can see from
the attached chart, Japanese women’s working pattern shapes typical "M"
which means many Japanese women leave workplace at the time of marriage or childbirth
whereas in Italy, certain level of women work force is maintained throughout the working
age although over-all employment rate is not necessarily high. I understand in Italy the
gap between the north and the south is very wide and the high unemployment in the south is
very serious issue. In case of Japanese women, this "M" pattern may relate to
Japanese traditional way of thinking that is husband as a breadwinner and wife as a
care-provider. That is why many women quit working when they get married even if legally
there is no compelling reason to do so. But because of this, women are often not
considered as reliable work force resulting in less or slow promotion.
I heard that in Italy, women also have to
struggle when they continue to work, raising their children as the public childcare
facilities and husband or partners burden sharing in household work are still somewhat
limited and not enough. I think Japanese women have also ambition to do whatever they want
to do beside household work. What prevents them to do so is, in my opinion, Japanese
businessmen’s workaholic lifestyle. An average Japanese businessman has to spend more
than 12 hours daily in his workplace. Besides, if he lives in urban areas like Tokyo,
Osaka, or Nagoya (the city I live), commuting time is often excessive-more than an hour
from home to work. After long working hours and commuting time, Japanese businessmen come
home only to sleep. Under such circumstances, even if his wife wants to work, she still
has to take care of all the household work and can not engage in responsible position.
Also, in Japan, outside service like babysitting or housemaid is not common and it is hard
to find such service.
So that Japanese women can fully appreciate
equal opportunity, legal measures alone do not work. Japanese way of doing business and
social structure as well as lifestyle need to change. I think we can learn more from
Italian people how to enjoy life besides work. In this sense, what Il Cenacolo is doing in
their learning center in Perugia is quite fascinating and I hope I will have a chance to
experience one of their courses by myself in the nearest future.
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Women's Agenda
with the cooperation of the International Women's Tribune Centre, New York
January 1999:
10-31The Netherlands:
"Gender, Agriculture and Organizational Change", in Wageningen. Contact:
International Agricultural Centre, PO Box 88, 6700 AB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Tel: (31-317) 49-01-11. Fax: (31-317) 41-85-52.
E-mail: [email protected]
11-13 Mexico:
"Women 2020 Perfect Vision". An International Congress of Women. Contact:
Adriana Moreno Duran, Congreso internacional de mujeres, Morelos 1448 Sur, Zona Centro,
Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. CP25000. Tel: (52-84)12-58-95.
Fax: (52-84)12-75-22. E-mail: [email protected]
19-5 New York:
UN/CEDAW Committee of Experts, 20th Session, at the UN. Countries reporting include:
Algeria (1st report), Austria (3rd and 4th reports), Chile (2nd), China (3rd/4th),
Colombia (4th), Greece (2nd/3rd), Jordan (1st), Liechtenstein (1st), Thailand (2nd/3rd),
UK, (3rd and Addendum 1).Alternates: Belarus (3rd), Spain (3rd). Contact: UN/Division for
the Advancement of Women (UN/DAW) (see below)
23 New York:
Public Consultation on CEDAW, focusing on the meaning and implementation of Article 5.
International Women's Rights Action Watch (IWRAW). Registration deadline: January 10,
1999. Contact: IWRAW, Hubert Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs, 301 19th Ave. South,
Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA.
Fax: (1-612) 624-0068. E-mail: [email protected]
26-29 Bangladesh:
"Organizing Against Sexual Exploitation Regionally and Globally", in Dhaka.
Contact: Committee Against Trafficking of Women (CATW), c/o Institute for Law and
Development, 52 Tejkunipara, Tejgaon, Dhaka 1215, Bangladesh.
Tel: (880-2) 912-5800. Fax: (880-2) 956-0210.
E-mail: [email protected]
February 1999:
6-7 The Netherlands:
"NGO Forum" and "Youth Forum" in The Hague. Both fora will be working
sessions to accelerate, improve and promote the implementation of the International
Conference on Population and Development/Cairo 1994 (ICPD) Programme of Action. Contact:
Marianne Haslegrave, NGO Forum Secretariat,
c/o World Population Foundation,Ampere Straat 10, 1221 GJ Hilversum, The Hague, The
Netherlands. Fax: (31-35) 642-1462.
E-mail: [email protected]. Web Site: www.ngoforum.org.
8-12 The Netherlands:
"The Hague Forum" (HF) at The Netherlands Congress Centre. This is an
international forum for the operational review and appraisal of the ICPD Programme of
Action. NGO's should contact the NGO Forum Secretariat at the address given above.
8-11 South Africa:
"Women, Science and Technology for Sustainable Human Development" in Capetown.
Contact: Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS) c/o ICTP,
PO Box 586, Via Beirut, 634014 Trieste, Italy.
Tel: (39-40) 224-0321. Fax: (39-40) 224-559.
E-mail: [email protected]
28 New York: NGO Consultation on the UN/CSW Session (see
below). Contact: NGO Committee on the Status of Women, PO Box 3571, Grand Central Station,
New York, NY 10163.
Fax: (1-212) 692-0724.
March 1999:
1-19 New York:
UN Commission on the Status of Women (UN/CSW). Women and Health and Institutional
Mechanisms for
the Advancement of Women will be considered from 1-12, and from 15-19, the Commission will
act as the preparatory committee (PrepCom) for the Special Session of the UN General
Assembly to review and appraise implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, to be
held 5-9 June 2000 at the UN. NGO observers to the CSW 43rd session must apply by 29
January 1999. Contact Koh Miyaoi, UN/DAW, DC-2, UN, NY, NY10017. USA.
Fax: (1-212) 963-3463. E-mail: [email protected].
22-30 New York:
UN Commission on Population and Development (CPD) meets from 22-24, and as the PrepCom for
the Special Session (SS) to review and appraise implementation of the ICPD Programme of
Action from 24-30. The SS will be held June 30-July 2, 1999. Contact: UNFPA, 220 E. 42nd
St.,
NY 10017, USA. Fax: (1-212) 557-6416.
E-mail: [email protected]. Web Site: www.unfpa.org/ICPD.
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