On September 3, 2020, Kyiv hosted the Kyiv Forum of equal rights and opportunities with the participation of Ukrainian government officials, politicians and public figures, mayors of European capitals, heads of diplomatic missions and heads of international and non-governmental organizations. The Council of Europe has become an official partner of the Forum.
The event was attended by Mr Andreas Kiefer, Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Ms Jelena Drenjanin, Thematic Spokesperson on Gender Equality, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Ms Olena Lytvynenko, Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine.
Mr Vitaliy Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv, said at the opening of the Forum that the capital of Ukraine in November 2019 decided to join the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Lives and will expand its participation in this important project.
Mr Andreas Kiefer, Secretary General of the Congress, underlined: “Achieving gender equality is central to the fulfilment of the Council of Europe mission and values. If we are to foster a culture that is based on fundamental human rights, a culture where women and men are equally respected and valued, we must eliminate sexism and gender stereotypes for the benefit of future generations and society as a whole. The Congress and its 324 members – more than 40% among them are women – encourages local and regional authorities to take appropriate measures so that women can find their place in public office on an equal footing with men, since local politics remains a significant area for ensuring equal participation and is often an entry point for women into political life.”
Ms Olena Lytvynenko, Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, stressed, that the achievement of equality of rights and opportunities is the key to the future of Ukraine and the whole of Europe and in this gender equality is of utmost importance. “All people are different, but all should be equal in their rights and opportunities. Human rights, democracy and the rule of law lose their meaning if they are not put into practice by specific people, by men and women. And the crucial role in this is played by communities, local and regional authorities, local governments. Only by ensuring universal equality of rights and opportunities will we achieve balanced and sustainable state and social development at absolutely all levels.” – pointed out Ms Olena Lytvynenko, Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine.
The Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine noted that ensuring gender equality is a key priority of the Council of Europe and one of the areas of cooperation of the Council of Europe Office with Kyiv City State Administration and Kyiv City Council within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2018-2021.
According to Ms Olena Lytvynenko, the Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy for 2018-2023 is one of the standards of the Council of Europe, a key element of this mission and aims to promote the effective implementation of gender equality and empowerment of women and men in Council of Europe member states, one of which is Ukraine.
“The Council of Europe Office has been cooperating with the Kyiv State Administration and the Kyiv City Council for a long time. We have many areas of cooperation: decentralization reform, the development of civil society, the promotion of local democracy, the protection of the rights of national minorities, including the Roma, and the protection of the social rights of vulnerable groups. Ensuring gender equality plays an important role in each of these areas. An important tool for the Council of Europe is the gender equality strategy, which was adopted for 2018-2023 and approved by all member states of the Council of Europe, including Ukraine. It is a Council of Europe standard and a document containing specific objectives, targets with clearly defined plans, aimed primarily at ensuring gender equality, combating sexism, combating domestic and violence against women, and ensuring women's access to justice and increasing women's representation in authorities,” said Olena Lytvynenko, Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine.
Ms Jelena Drenjanin, Congress Spokesperson on Gender Equality, stressed: “Sexism is rooted in the historically unequal power relations between women and men, and one of its forms is violence against women in politics, which reinforces gender stereotypes and violates women’s right to fully and equally participate in political life. In addressing sexism and violence against women in politics, the Congress advocates for introducing strong legislation against it and its perpetrators, supporting its victims, raising awareness of its magnitude and consequences, changing sexist attitudes and prejudice, and collecting data to better understand the phenomenon.”
According to Ms Maryna Khonda, Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration for Self-Government, the Kyiv Forum of Equal Rights and Opportunities has indeed become a unifying platform for many who are fighting for gender equality in all spheres of life. “We will try to put all these thoughts, ideas and practical experience into practice in our city,” said Maryna Khonda.
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