In
the meeting organized by the Committee together with UN Office in Ukraine,
Student´s Parliament and Research Union of Students and Post-Graduate Students
of Kyiv T. Shevchenko National University in the framework of the international
conference "Model of United Nations Organization. Kyiv-2010", the People´s
Deputies, representatives of the diplomatic corps and public organizations,
leading scientists and other specialists took
part.
Volodymyr Stretovych, Deputy Chairman of the Committee, opened the hearings, and declared that the Committee had always been working on the issues on trafficking in humans, children pornography, prostitution and sexual harassment.
The Deputy Chairman of the Committee reminded that 10th anniversary of adoption of the Optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography was celebrated that day.
"Having
ratified the Optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on
the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (3 April 2003),
Ukraine has assumed obligation regarding harmonization of the national
legislative system with the requirements of this international document, which
means shaping of the necessary conditions for children to grow up in the safety
and favourable conditions, providing free access to education and health
protection of high quality and high standards of living", V. Stretovych declared.
The Deputy Chairman of the Committee singled out the most urgent problems in Ukraine that need special attention of the public and the government: careless treatment of children and crimes against children (forcing to work, and trafficking in children). He is convinced that the hearings participants would express their proposals regarding these problems that would be used by the Committee to improve the Ukrainian legislation in this sphere.
Mariana Yevsyukova, Representative for Eastern Europe and CIS in the ECPAT International Child and Youth Advisory Committee, has analyzed the Ukrainian legislation as to its compliance with the Optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography and declared that it did not contradict the Optional Protocol, although had certain drawbacks. She also declared that the Optional Protocol, adopted ten years ago, fails to meet the modern challenges, as the problem of trafficking in humans, children pornography, prostitution and sexual harassment is changing every year, gains new peculiarities and aspects. Thus, to prevent and overcome these problems, there should be new tendencies and strategies aimed at the modern manifestations of these crimes.
"The Committee recommends Ukraine to eliminate the drawbacks by means of amending and supplementing the effective legislation of Ukraine", M. Yevsyukova stated.
The participants of the hearings shared international experience in the prevention of trafficking in humans, children pornography, prostitution and sexual harassment. Speakers delivered reports on these matters in our state and introduced specific proposals to be taken into consideration by the Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement.