On Tuesday, Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, delivered a speech at the International Conference on Child Protection from Violence held at the Ukrainian House. The Deputy Chairman stated that in terms of children´s rights protection in Ukraine, The Verkhovna Rada acts as a single-party mechanism which adopts resolutions to protect children from violence.
The Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine singled out a number of pressing issues. The first matter is development of a strategy system and an action plan to protect children from violence. Along these lines, M.Tomenko expressed his objection to the administrative reform, which has actually liquidated the system of central and local authorities in charge of motherhood and childhood protection.
As to the second issue, M.Tomenko stated, "Initial reforms of education and public health sectors infringe on children´s and parents´ educational, health, and cultural rights, rather than protect them."
Thirdly, M.Tomenko expressed his concern about the megaprojects popular among the central authorities and heads of regional administrations at the time, when the projects on recreation, physical culture and sports are being neglected.
Summing up, the Deputy Chairman recommended the local authorities to spend efforts and funds on the small-scale local projects on children´s support to develop a proper network of recreation and sports facilities.