Position paper for united nations population fund (UNFPA) for Ukraine

Position paper for united nations population fund (UNFPA) for Ukraine

Introduction

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFP) has played a vital role in promoting the justice system and health systems of different countries. It also prevents gender-based violence while focusing on eliminating harmful practices that are gender-based. Some of the methods that UNFPA prevents and responds to are child marriage and FGM. In Ukraine, gender roles and stereotypes dominated society, but the government has made some critical advances in fighting the vice. The government is committed to adopting international requirements on gender equality by adopting the Sustainable Development Goals. It further agreed with the EU to commit to gender equality. Ukraine also is committed to ensuring that young people can fulfill their potential and that its citizens can get access to health and care services.

Thesis Statement: Ukraine strives to achieve gender equality, quality healthcare, a good lifestyle for its youths, and UNFPA has been at the forefront in assisting the country in obtaining all these through funding and sponsorship programs.

Domestic

Ukraine has adopted both local and international policies that promote youth empowerment, quality healthcare, and gender equality. According to UN (2019), Ukraine, through a joint initiative, came up with Ukrainian Pact for Youth 2020 to provide 10, 000 employment and internship opportunities for young people in all regions of the country with the technical support from UNFPA Ukraine. Despite the significance of education in the country, the youths never believe that the system fulfills their expectations hence the need for the pact in imparting them with the necessary skills that may enable them to live a healthy life. Through the agreement, many youths will have an opportunity to engage in meaningful employment. They will also have the chance to take advantage of increased trainee positions.

Also, Ukraine has, in the recent past, adopted gender-sensitive laws that promote its position in the Global Gender Gap Index in the wake of a masculinity crisis that has hit the country. It has adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and signed an agreement with the EU Association to ensure equal opportunities for both women and men. Furthermore, Ukraine has, in its constitution, integrated gender equality as a show of its commitment to fighting the vice. The structure gives the relevant institutions a strength to promote gender equality. The adoption of several international policies such as the National Action Plan for Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, as well as the revision of the country’s legislation on preventing domestic violence in 2017, is clear signs that the country will win the gender equality war. It wants all its citizens to enjoy equal opportunity despite their age and gender despite the patriarchal attitudes and stereotypes.

Despite systematic gender inequality in the country, Ukraine is committed to reproductive health care for women and youth as well as the health of pregnant women. It further promotes reliable access to modern contraceptives. It is committed to the prevention of gender-based violence through legislation and the use of other means such as the arrest of violators of gender equality. Domestically, Ukraine has strived to make involve women and youths in politics. The country has integrated sexuality awareness in its educational system. Sexual and reproduction health can, therefore, be studied in schools and colleges to help in promoting the general health of young people. Also, the Ukraine government has partnered with other organizations to train health workers and enhance access to reproductive health.

Broad Policy Statement

• Ukraine believes that gender equality is possible through legislation and adopting international policies
• It further believes that youth empowerment is good for its economic growth hence the need to create employment opportunities for them
• The country also believes in a healthy population hence its commitment to promoting quality care.

Rationale for Action

Ukraine’s government recognizes that gender equality, quality health, and youth empowerment are critical to its success. However, stereotype and gender violence has had a significant challenge in promoting equality. Also, the quality of education does not seem to support employment needs as expected by the young generation.

Ukraine understands that failure to take action against gender inequality, quality health, and youth unemployment can be disastrous to families and the entire Ukrainian society. Improving the status of women and sexual reproduction is, therefore, quite integral.

International

Internationally, Ukraine participates in most of the international forums that promote sexuality, gender equality, and the general health of its population. Chepurko (2010) explains that the country is a member of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and has also ratified all core ILO Conventions that help in promoting gender equality in the labor market. Also, it has adopted several international commitments that encourage gender equality such as the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action (BPA) as well as the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement in 2014 that showed its commitment to equal opportunity in employment, education and several other sectors (United Nations Ukraine 2015). It further adopted the UN Security Council resolution 1325 and the implementation of the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (United Nations Ukraine 2015). Also, it has partnered with UNFPA to promote gender equality, reproductive health, youth empowerment since 1997 to create conditions in which every young person can live a healthy life and understand their reproductive rights (UNFPA 2018). Ukraine supports sexual and reproductive health campaigns globally through its commitment to partnering with the international bodies and the adoption of foreign policies. It believes in improving aces to health and care services worldwide. Internationally, Ukraine combats gender stereotypes in society using various platforms such as membership to international organizations such as the UN (UNFPA 2018). It can, therefore, be said that Ukraine has made an immense contribution to the promotion of health, gender equality, and economic empowerment among youths in the international platforms. It does this by acting as an example through legislation that is always in line with international standards. Ukraine encourages global communities to take matters of sexual reproduction and health among young people seriously.

UN Resolutions

The UN has resolved to promote gender equality and empowerment of women, as indicated in the United Nations ECOSOC resolution 2008/3411. It advocates for the integration of gender-sensitive indicators in a strategic framework that supports adherence to the UN-SWAP standards (UNFPA 2019).

Case Studies

Ukraine experiences an extremely low fertility rate, with many families only having one kid. The population is a rapidly aging one, with one in every five Ukrainians reaching the age of 60. According to UNFP (2018), Ukraine has high relative poverty and inequalities and a high HIV prevalence that ought to be dealt with effectively. Because of the stereotypical gender roles that are deeply rooted in the country that saw it taking position 69 on the Global gender gap Index in 2016, Ukraine has made significant steps towards a better society with the intention of eliminating all the vices.

Through the UNFPA, Ukraine combats gender stereotypes through media campaigns and applying gender-sensitive approaches to public administration as well as improving the national gender machinery. The country, alongside UNFPA in 2015, introduced “4-Hands Happiness that promotes equal rights as well as the involvement of other participatory engagement in the educational process (UNFPA 2018).

Allies

Ukraine has several partners that have been in the forefront to ensure that it succeeds in its pursuit of gender equality and sexual reproduction. The immediate partners are the Ukrainian citizens who have been actively participating in promoting gender equality. According to the United Nations Ukraine (2015), the issue of gender equality and sexual reproduction-related issues are supported by civil society and the agreement with other international bodies such as the United Nations. Civil societies have helped in pushing for critical agenda regarding gender equality. Also, partnership with the international organizations has encouraged Ukraine’s adherence to international treaty obligations such as its link with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) that champions for 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UN Ukraine partnership encourages sustainable economic growth and employment, equitable access to quality and inclusive services, democratic governance, the rule of law, and civic participation as well as human security, social cohesion, and recovery. It is, therefore, apparent that the country benefits from its allies and is likely to achieve great potential. The partners have supported it in developing policies and financial support.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ukraine has made great strides in its pursuit of gender equality. It is, therefore, apparent that the future for the country is bright. It will likely, through the adoption of international policies, achieve a gender-violence free state. It should continue in its gender-based and sexual reproduction legislation until it reaches a better position internationally.

Bibliography

United Nations Ukraine 2015. Retrieved from http://www.un.org.ua/en/resident-coordinator-system/gender-equality

Chepurko, G 2010. Gender Equality in the Labour Market in Ukraine. International Labour organization.

UNFPA UKRAINE 2018. Retrieved from https://ukraine.unfpa.org/en/node/9302

UNFPA 2019. Gender Equality Strategy 2018-2021. Retrieved from https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/19-132_UNFPA_GenderStrategy-EN.pdf