Justice Minister to present UNDP-supported National campaign “Stop violence!” to his European counterparts
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecka informed the Minister that on February 25, 2008 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon initiated an International Campaign "UNite to End Violence against Women". He called upon the leaders of the whole world to support the campaign by respective actions at national level, as well as to create a global network of leaders who would help to attract public attention to the problem of violence against women.
She said that the Justice Ministry's role was a key one while analysing current legal norms and bringing Ukraine closer to the combating family violence in line with European and international practices.
She also said that domestic violence had been a serious obstacle to ensuring fundamental human rights and establishing parity democracy in Ukrainian society. She also stressed the need to change public attitude to violence against women.
The Minister is aware of the gender discrepancy when it comes to domestic violence: 90 % of victims in Ukraine are women and in 75% of cases children also suffer from violence in the family. One in three women in Ukraine is abused by her husband or partner.
He confirmed that the Ministry of Justice has been working in close cooperation with United Nations and its agencies and programmes. The Minister stressed the importance of sharing and learning best practices and experiences. Moreover, Ukrainian legislation is getting closer to European norms and practices in the field of Human rights. Mykola Onischuk assured that necessary reforms of existing legislation will be elaborated and implemented with the support of the Ministry of Justice.
UNDP DRR noticed that within the framework of the International campaign a number of non-governmental organizations, and UNDP in particular, applied to the Ministry of Ukraine for Family, Youth and Sports with the initiative to conduct in Ukraine the Stop Violence National campaign directed at counteracting violence against women, children and in the family.
In 2008 the National forum "Stop violence!" was conducted. Participants of the Forum have adopted the National platform of action and plan of events to implement the platform.
Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecka added that "Stop Violence!" Organizational Committee called on Ukrainian men leaders to unite in a national network to fight violence against women - "Network "Men against Violence" was established in March 2009. In his return, Mykola Onischuk said that he knew about the initiative and agreed to join this network.
He insisted on the importance of this initiative in defining the right mindset in the society and the overall conception of intolerance for domestic violence. Onischuk expressed hope that this initiative would become more and more widespread in Ukraine.
Mykola Onischuk informed about the upcoming 29th Conference of Council of Europe Ministers of Justice "Breaking the silence - United against domestic violence" in Norway. This conference will be conducted on 17-19 June 2009. During the conference, the Minister will present Ukrainian activities and initiatives directed at fighting and preventing domestic violence. The Minister will work on learning, analysing and summing up different steps and actions taken by several structures and organizations in Ukraine focused on domestic violence issue.
The meeting participants have agreed to exchange materials for the Conference in Norway. The Minister will present Ukrainian efforts on preventing and combating domestic violence.
For more information, contact Mykola Yabchenko (Equal Opportunities and Women's Rights in Ukraine Programme): +38 067 290 55 01, +38 044 569 40 75, mykola.yabchenko AT undp.org.ua.
