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Wednesday, 17 June 2009 11:09
UNDP and Poltava Regional Administration are set to promote gender equality together
Speaking at a signing ceremony, Valeriy Asadchev, Head of the Regional State Administration, thanked UNDP for the opportunity to join a UNDP-led nationwide network specialised in sharing best experience and practices in ensuring gender equality. At the same time, he said that Poltava region has been already working on this issue over the past years.
"We completely understand the advantages of having a harmonious and equal representation of women and men in the decision-making process. For example, in the Regional State Administration, 60% of employees are women. Among the Heads of Departments, women are a majority as well. However, we are planning to improve gender equality situation even further. The signing of the Memorandum is our next step to gender development," he added.
Oleksandr Udovichenko, Head of Poltava Regional Council, confirmed that women played an important role in the Region's social life. He added that women were rather active within the local executive bodies. He also confirmed that members of the Regional Council were ready to cooperate in implementing the newly-signed Memorandum.
Larysa Kobelyanska, Project Coordinator, presented Equal Opportunities and Women’s Rights in Ukraine Programme and its work. The Programme has been working to implement gender policy in Ukraine since 1997 with its main State partner, the Ministry for Family, Youth and Sport. However, without a strong support from the regions, the Programme would not be able to provide efficient results.
Therefore, in her opinion, it is very important to develop cooperation on the local levels. The Memorandum confirms the willingness of regional authorities to cooperate and ensure equal opportunities to women and men across the country.
The document envisages the adoption and realization of the Regional Programme on ensuring gender equality, the creation of a gender resource centre, the realization of concrete projects.
On behalf of UNDP, the Memorandum was signed by Ercan Murat, UNDP Officer-in-Charge.
Poltava region is the 8th region to cooperate with UNDP and sign the Memorandum of Understanding. Poltava regional gender resource center will be the 15th gender centre in Ukraine.
After the official part, a round table was conducted with the participation of Heads of Regional State Administrations, representatives of regional self-government, and journalists. The prospects for possible joint events and activities were discussed during the conference.
On the same day, the Regional Administration received first equipment and books for the gender resource centre and its library from UNDP.
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.
