"Women in the diplomatic service are ambassadors of equality, who form a positive image of Ukraine in the international arena," Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Olena Kondratiuk

Information Department of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat
26 May 2021, 13:30


At the initiative of the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Olena Kondratyuk and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, a new format of dialogue on the development and promotion of a culture of values and equality in our country and abroad was launched.
As part of the initiative, the first inaugural online meeting was held with the participation of Deputy Speaker Olena Kondratiuk, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Emine Dzheppar, Ukrainian women ambassadors to the United States, Portugal, Northern Macedonia, Singapore, South Africa, Morocco, Jordan, Mexico, Estonia, South Africa, Ireland, as well as women consuls general and consuls of Ukraine abroad.
Olena Kondratiuk noted the positive trend towards an increase in the number of women in the diplomatic service.
"12 ambassadors of Ukraine abroad are women and for the first time a woman will be appointed head of the Mission of Ukraine to NATO. When we see such positive changes, our confidence grows that Ukraine is moving in the right direction - to build a society of equal rights and opportunities for everyone. There is also a growing positive perception of Ukraine among the wide range of partners and allies of our country in the international arena. And we really need such a good promotion in the framework of European and Euro-Atlantic integration," Olena Kondratiuk stressed.
The Vice Speaker also called on the diplomats to share valuable international experience and best practices in overcoming the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic abroad, effective solutions for achieving gender parity in politics, government, economics, education, social affairs and the diplomatic service.
According to her, the world is changing very rapidly, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made irreversible adjustments to the domestic and foreign policies of the vast majority of countries in all spheres of people's lives.
The participants of the meeting, in particular, discussed the trends taking place in the countries against the background of COVID-19. Namely, the outbreak of domestic violence, the way in which other countries address the issues of assistance to women who have suffered the most from numerous quarantine restrictions through special economic and social programs.
The Vice Speaker also noted that a recent European Parliament resolution on Ukraine's implementation of the Association Agreement specifically noted the existence of a significant pay gap between women and men in Ukraine and pointed to Ukraine's disappointing position in the gender gap index of the World Economic Forum.
In her opinion, the Parliament and the Government of Ukraine should realize their responsibility for this situation.
Taking this opportunity, the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for the support provided during the organization and holding of the Inter-Parliamentary cooperation events. In particular, the Ukraine-Poland Parliamentary Assembly, which she heads from the Ukrainian side.