Kateryna Yushchenko's speech at the reception in honor of Participants of the 31st Assembly of the International Council of Women
Dear Madame Anama Tan!
Dear Participants of the 31st Assembly of the International Council of Women!
Ladies and gentlemen!
Today I have the unique opportunity to welcome in this hall so many distinguished and noble women who are setting an example of leadership, success and talent for the whole world.
For me and for millions of my fellow Ukrainians, it is very significant that the Assembly of the International Council of Women is being held in Kyiv. I am honored that Ukrainian women’s organizations have been an integral part of the history of your highly respected organization. This is indeed evidence of the long record and strength of the women’s movement in Ukraine.
We will always remember and appreciate the fact that the International Council of Women recognized and respected Ukraine’s right to representation in such bodies even at a time when our country did not exist on the maps of Europe. The Ukrainian community will always appreciate your protest against our Holodomor, the Great Famine of 1932-33, and your condemnation of this genocide against my people.
By renewing the participation of the Council of Women of independent Ukraine in your organization in 2000 and by holding your Assembly in Kyiv, you are facilitating the rebirth of longstanding traditions of our women’s movement, a movement led by such women as Sophia Rusova, Lesya Ukrainka and Olha Kobylyanska.
The will of Ukrainian women to combine motherhood with self-realization in professional life and in personal development has become our national tradition, our chosen way of life. I want all the women of Ukraine to be able to have this choice of personal freedom, dignity and self-realization.
To give a woman a chance of advancement is a challenge for all democratic societies. And I am proud of the fact that Ukraine responds to this challenge with dignity.
A year ago Ukraine passed a Law on Gender Balance. More and more women are joining Ukrainian politics, business, public life and are attaining important positions. I am deeply convinced that Ukrainian women will be able to accelerate these changes in our country.
Millions of women in Ukraine feel inspired by developments in the social policies of Ukraine that have been taking place over the last two years. One of President Yushchenko’s first decrees was to increase by 11 times the amount of assistance that is paid to a mother who gives birth to a child.
Support that is provided to single mothers and mothers who have disabled children has also significantly increased. We already see the most important result of such policies – the birth rate in Ukraine has started to increase.
But our experience proves that in order to be able to enjoy one’s rights and vocation it is necessary to combine the efforts of the entire community. Hundreds of NGOs and charitable organizations in Ukraine implement programs for women. They are targeted to such “hot spots” as unemployment among women, family violence, protection of motherhood and childhood, combating human trafficking.
I am pleased that the international charitable foundation, Ukraine 3000, that my husband and I founded has established its own niche in this important work. In cooperation with Ukrainian and international charitable organizations we work to help many mothers and children in need. I am always inspired when I see an expanding circle of people and organizations who wish to cooperate with us.
My dear friends!
Once again I would like to express my sincere greetings to your Forum and wish all of us new victories in the goals that we select for ourselves. But first of all I would like to wish all of you a happy life full of faith, hope and love.
Peace and kindness to all of you, your families and your people!
September 9, 2006
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