First vice-speaker calls upon heavier purveying gender equality principle in Ukraine’s electoral processes
30 May 2019, 11:34
During the morning plenary session on May 29, the First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Iryna Herashchenko emphasized the necessity of introducing gender quotas into electoral legislation. The politician flagged up the activity of Ukrainian women and called it to be inadmissible that the number of female politicians in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is only 12 per cent.
Speaking then to the chamber on Thursday, Iryna Herashchenko called on to consider the draft law No.1456 "On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine (regarding ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men in the election process)". "It is extremely important to introduce gender quotas in the electoral law at, at least, 30% for one gender - to increase the number of women in Ukrainian politics.
“We also expect that on the eve of the election leaders of the political parties will publicly commit themselves to comply with such quotas and fully support the women who will be nominated for in majority constituencies," I. Herashchenko emphasized.
During her speech, the first vice-speaker noted the active role of Ukrainian women in peacekeeping processes, the women participating in the negotiations on the settlement of the Donbas situation, the mothers and wives of hostages and political prisoners of the Kremlin, who are fighting for the liberation of their relatives.
Through certain stereotypes, the Ukrainian parliament has not yet ratified the Istanbul Convention, unfortunately, informed the politician. She then called the ratification of the convention to be the primary task for the next parliament of Ukraine.
"Most countries have already ratified this convention to protect women and children from domestic violence. And I personally want it very much that the next parliament fulfil these obligations before the Ukrainian society," underlined I. Herashchenko.