Geordyn Marks and Diana Drake

Holcomb Bridge Middle School

Ukraine
United Nations Women
Girls Education and Gender Equity
Illiteracy is something that has plagued girls since the 1970s. This is due to gender inequality in many
parts of the word. Seventy-eight million girls around the world are illiterate. Girls are facing gender
violence, early marriage, and poverty, amongst others. Ukraine has an average gender equality rate
compared to other counties and believe in protecting womens rights, there are still many improvements
to be made. Even though Articles 24 of the Ukrainian Constitution states, Equality of the rights of
women and men shall be ensured by providing women with opportunities equal to those of men in public,
political and cultural activities, in obtaining education and in professional training, in work and
remuneration for it; by taking special measures for the protection of work and health of women; by
establishing pension privileges; by creating conditions that make it possible for women to combine work
and motherhood; by adopting legal protection, material and moral support of motherhood and childhood,
including the provision of paid leave and other privileges to pregnant women and mothers, women are
constantly being discriminated against. Since there are 24,274,000 women out of 44,940,000 people in
Ukraine, many girls could be going to school, more girls than boys actual, but gender equality is
decreasing, the number of girls in Ukrainian schools is fairly low. This decreases as the grade levels
increases, and this causes a drastic problem for women and their families.
Struggles Ukrainian women encounter include public discriminatory comments on the part of state
authorities, the lack of women in government, restrictions on female admission to higher educational
institutions, distributions of discrimination in, family the mass media, the pension reform which infringes
on the rights of employed women, family violence, a lack of government programs to combat trafficking,
and more. Also, they are commonly discouraged to not continue their education due to cultural norms.
When women are in high paying jobs and positions this not only helps them provide for their families, but
it also makes the country more successful. Several attempts have been made to introduce gender quotas in
Ukraine, but they were unsuccessful. Over the past year, Ukraine, with the help of United Nations
women, have been enacting the State Programme in Ukraine. This is to ensure equal rights and
opportunities for women and men for 2013-2016. Natalia Korolevska, Ukraines Minister of Social
Policy, began working with the United Nations because of the percentage of women working in
parliament and in other opportunities for working women. Only 9.4 % in Parliament and the wage gap
between women and men, which also remains high, nearing 22.77%, according to Natalia Korolevska.
If women work, economies grow, as stated by a representative from Kiev, Ukraine. This is true because
majority of men of working at the moment. If more women began working, the economy for Ukraine can
go increase. Ukraine believes that this program that has been set in place will positively impact the
government and the people of Ukraine. The education Ukrainian girls is very important to the people and
government Ukraine. The fact of the matter is the discrimination of girls in the school. Ukraine is working
more on gender equality issues, than the education of Ukrainian girls. Education equality is at a sort of a
good rate, but it is decreasing. Ukraine believes that if gender equality in general is increased, then the
equality in the classroom would also increase.
There are many solutions, but Ukraine believes that if more options for women in the job and political
world, than the equality for genders would increase. If gender equality increases, then the education for
Ukrainian girls can increase. Ukraine believes programs can create programs that would boost gender
equality would include. Also, an improvement to the Ukrainian Constitution is also an option Laws
protecting girls from violence and discrimination should still be strictly enforced. Gender equality in
education and in the public is slowly improving, but with help from the United Nations will be greatly
appreciated.

Geordyn Marks and Diana Drake

Holcomb Bridge Middle School
Ukraine
United Nations Women
Girls Education and Gender Equity

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