The Chairman of the Committee on Family Matters, Youth Policy, Sports and Tourism Artur Palatnyi and the Chairman of the subcommittee on youth policy, family and childhood Mykola Zhuk met with the Head of UNICEF in Ukraine Yukiye Mokuo and the UNICEF Child Protection Program Specialists Gabrielle Akimova and Ruslana Sirman
08 February 2013, 13:56
People’s deputies expressed gratitude to the UNICEF representatives for fruitful cooperation and assured that the Committee will support all projects of the Fund aiming at child protection. “Despite the fact that members of our Committee represent different parties, they are united in effort to provide children with happy childhood in Ukraine. Attitude towards a child, ensurance of equality of his/ her rights with that of adult are the real assessment of state’s policy and of overall development of society and its spirituality,” stressed A.Palatnyi.
Participants of the meeting discussed the issue of Ukraine’s accession to the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. Committee members noted that in order to access the Convention, current Ukrainian laws are to be refined, considering all possible risks and problematic issues to ensure interests of a child.
Attention was also focused on the issue of cooperation between Committee members and Fund Representation regarding Action Plan for implementing strategy of social services and prevention of social orphanhood.
UNICEF representatives suggested holding parliamentary hearings on the status of children and youth in Ukraine. The Committee Chairman assured that such hearings will be held and invited guests to participate in the hearings “Consideration of bills on Ukraine’s accession to the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption and on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine in connection with Ukraine’s accession to this Convention” planned to be held on February 13 at 2 p.m.