The problem of respecting equality between
women and men in our country can be divided into several areas. The first one –
the employment opportunities for women and their salary level. The second one –
representation of women in government and politics. The third and one of the most painful – domestic violence against women.
The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ihor Kalyetnik
claimed this during the opening of the parliamentary hearings entitled “Securing
equal rights and opportunities of men and women. Problems and efficient
mechanisms to solve them”.
According to him, in some sectors of economy the salaries level of men
and women differs by two times or more.
“For example, an average women’s salary working in the field of post and
communication is approximately UAH 2300, men’s salary in the same field is UAH
3900 per month,” the First Deputy Chairman of the Parliament said.
He added that “gender stereotypes about women’s status and role still
exist in Ukrainian society. Very often there is a lack of possibilities for proper
harmonious combination of family and professional responsibilities. A woman has
to choose between family and work, between raising children and building a
career more often than a man,” claimed Ihor Kalyetnik.
He also claimed that the largest number of women holding senior
positions in civil services is represented on the local level.
“There are 12% of women among deputies of Oblast councils, 23% – of
regional councils, 28% – of city councils, nearly 50% – of township and village
councils,” First
Deputy Chairman of the Parliament added.
He said that according to the National Agency
of Ukraine on Civil Service,
women constitute over 78% of the total number of civil servants.
“However, larger number of women in civil services is formed mainly with
civil servants of lower administrative levels: with promotion to higher
positions their number decreases,” said Ihor Kalyetnik.
He also added that “real measurement of the improvement of legislation
in the sphere of gender equality in Ukraine should be an increase of
women’s status in social and political life of the country, their
representation in business and government bodies of all levels.”
Ihor Kalyetnik named the third and the most painful problem of
respecting equality between
women and men – “domestic violence against women.”
“Every hour in Ukraine at least 15 women become victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence is a hidden offence, current statistics do not reflect it in its real scale. Society suffers from cruelty. Not only severe punishments, but also its prevention, a change in social attitude regarding the problem of equality will help overcome it,” summed up Ihor Kalyetnik.