Opening the meeting, Kateryna Lukianova, Chairman of the Sub-Committee on the Youth Policy, Family and Childhood, stated that the Verkhovna Rada should consider ratification
of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. She
expects that the round table discussion will facilitate harmonization of the
Ukrainian laws with the European standards.
Danuta Wiśniewska-Cazals, representative of the Council of Europe Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs, declared that cooperation between Ukraine and the Council of Europe aimed at the harmonization of the Ukrainian and the European laws. She believes that the results of the discussion should facilitate ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Olena Suslova, Chairman of the Board of the Information-Consultative Center for Women, stressed that the domestic law on the counteraction to domestic violence complied with the European legislation in most respects. However, Ukrainian legislative provisions should be enhanced. Thus, the term of gender violence has not been legally defined yet.
The participants of the round table discussion adopted the following guidelines for the Committee on the Family Matters, Youth Policy, Sports and Tourism:
to address the Cabinet of Ministers with a request to report on the work of the respective bodies and services in charge of protection of children and women;
to address the Council of Europe Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs with a request to include the issue on the social security of families with children to the Ukraine-Council of Europe Action Plan for 2011-2014;
to organize the meeting of the state executive bodies and the non-governmental organizations carrying out social work with the families with children;
to study the international experience in the work with the families that need special attention of the society;
to submit the proposals on enhancement of the applicable legislation on the social support of the families with children.