Decree of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on general principles of State policy of Ukraine regarding the family and women - Ukraine

“Being guided by the General Declaration on Human Rights, UN Convention “On liquidation of all forms of discrimination against women”, international treaties on personal rights and freedoms, ratified by Ukraine, as well as by the documents presented at the 4th World Conference on the women's conditions entitled "Actions in the interests of equality, development and peace" (Peking, 1995) and by the Decree of Verkhovna Rada from 12.07.1995 "On Recommendations of the participants of parliamentary hearings regarding the realisation in Ukraine of the UN Convention "On Liquidation of all forms of Discrimination against women", declares:

To give special attention to the role of family and women in the political, economic, social, historical and cultural development of Ukraine;

To establish the forming of State policy regarding family and women as one of the priority directions in the policy-making of the executive power bodies and regional governing administrations;

To search improvement of demographical situation, to provide the families with the right to realise their functions, as well as create legal, socio-political and socio-economic conditions for improving the conditions of families and women, increasing their role in the society, and letting them take full advantage of their intellectual, spiritual and creative capabilities.

With these goals in mind, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ratifies this Declaration on general principles of State policy of Ukraine regarding the family and women:

I. The principles of Ukrainian State Policy with respect to family and women.

1. The State guarantees to provide equal rights and possibilities to women and men with respect to principle human rights and liberties.

2. The State defends the rights of family as of the principle unit of the society.

3. The State defends maternity and childhood and admits the priority of mothers and children’s interests in the society.

4. The State guarantees liquidation of all forms of discrimination against women.

5. The State guarantees and provides full and equal participation of women in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the society.

6. The State provides women with the possibility to combine their professional and family responsibilities.

7. The State provides and further develops the social guarantees, including paid vacations and other benefits to pregnant women and mothers.

8. The State guarantees steadfast observing of Ukrainian legislature and the international legal norms with respect to family and women.

9. The State supports civil and charitable organisations, the activities of which are directed towards improving the condition of family and women.

II. Principle directions of State policy of Ukraine regarding family and women.

1. Developing and implementing necessary legislation regarding the condition of family and women with respect to international legal norms.

2. Including women in the process of private enterprise development, encouraging them to participate in development and implementation of economic, political, social and legal decisions on all levels of state power and regional administration.

3. Creating financial and socio-economic base for strengthening the family and increasing its prosperity.

4. Increase of women’s role in the cultural, socio-economic and spiritual development of the society as well as in the political sphere.

5. Major increase of positive returns from present policies regarding the protection of maternity and childhood, and providing for the strong genetic health of Ukrainian citizens.

6. Creating favourable conditions for education and personal development of children and family.

7. Support for policies, directed towards increasing the cultural, educational and moral level of the family and each of its members.

8. Organisation of full-value time-off and leisure time for families along with satisfying the demands of various age groups.

III. Final regulations

1. Neither one of the regulations of this Declaration can be interpreted in a way, harmful for interest of family and women.

2. The Regulations of Declaration on the general principles of the State policy regarding family and women are to be considered a base for further development of laws and other legal normative documents regarding the condition of family and women.