FAST FACTS: GENDER EQUALITY

BACKGROUND
Ukraine has established the core elements of a legal and
institutional framework for promoting gender equality
and addressing gender based discrimination. Ukraine is
party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and its
Optional Protocol. An international treaty obligation is
enshrined in the Law of Ukraine "On Ensuring Equal
Rights and Opportunities for Men and Women" and State
Programme on Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities
for Women and Men for 2013-2016.

KEY FACTS AND FIGURES:

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KEY ISSUES

53,8 % of Ukrainian population are

women
9,4 % of national parliament
members are women
13% of Cabinet Members are women
Womens average wage is 77.6% of
mens average wage
38% of private entrepreneurs are
women
Two thirds of persons aged 60 and
above are women
Over 90,000 cases of violence against
women registered annually.
Only 1 of 4 women who survived
domestic violence in Ukraine seek
support from law enforcement and
legislative system

Political participation. Though 76% of civil servants and

51% of village council members are women, they are
concentrated at lower managerial levels and have very
weak impact on decisions. Only 9,4% of national parliamentarians and 13% of cabinet members
are women. The tendency is that the higher the post the fewer women.
Economic participation. Womens contribution to measured economic activity is far below its
potential. Horizontal and vertical gender-based occupational segregation is observed in the
labor market with women concentrated in low-paid economic sectors and with limited access
to top management positions in all sectors of economy. The level of female economic activity in
working age remains low (68,7%), compared to male (77.2%), according to official statistics,
although the unemployment level is higher among men of working age than among women:
8.9% compared to 7.2% were unemployed (as percentage to the economically active
population of the same age group). Among the officially registered unemployed population
women comprised 41% (2012 data of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine).
Violence against women. Though there is legislation specifically addressing violence against
women including, over 90,000 cases of violence against women are registered each year.

UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM

Through promoting gender equality as a driver of economic competitiveness and social welfare,
the UN system in Ukraine works to support civil society, the private sector and state institutions
in Ukraine to ensure the political, social and economic inclusion of women. Policies,
programmes and measures are undertaken at national and sub-national levels by UN agencies,

funds and programmes, to accelerate empowerment of women and to facilitate Ukraines

adherence to international treaty obligations including achievement of the Millennium
Development Goals.
KEY MESSAGES
o Womens empowerment, their equal access to financial services, decent work,
infrastructure, full range of health services, including sexual and reproductive health and
rights; elimination of discrimination and equal pay for equal work; equal voice in
decision-making, protection of rights of older women and their social security are
crucial factors and prerequisites for countrys development, its progress and
achievement of sustainable growth.
o Active participation of women, on equal terms with men, at all levels of decision
making, will accelerate Ukraines social and economic development. Increasing female
labour force participation and reducing wage differentials will lead to poverty reduction.
Removing all barriers that directly or indirectly discriminate against the economic
participation of women will improve business environment in Ukraine.
o Operationalization of the State Programme on Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities
for Women and Men, 2013-2016, ensuring a mechanism for sustainable financing of
gender equality, including through introduction of a gender-responsive budgeting at the
national and regional levels, as well as system to track and make public allocations for
gender equality and womens empowerment is important.
o Violence against women, as the most pervasive human rights abuse, impedes the
welfare and wellbeing of all Ukrainians. Expeditious approval of the revised version of
the Law on Preventing and Combating Domestic Violence, compliant with international
standards, ratification of the Istanbul Convention will give Ukraine the opportunity to
improve legislation and to build a comprehensive system to protect women from all
forms of violence.

Kyiv, Ukraine - January 2014