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The ICW Conference had a significant meaning in the history of the women's movement in Ukraine. Three Ukrainian women attended this meeting as observers, the first Ukrainian women from Ukraine to participate in an ICW meeting in seventy-seven years. Maria Drach, President of the International Women's Society (Zhinocha Hromada) was sponsored by the National Council of Women of Canada's Helen Hnatyshyn Fund. The Fund was established by Helen Hnatyshyn, former president of the National Council of Women of Canada and mother of Ray Hnatyshyn, Governor General of Canada. The Fund's purpose, defined in the days when an independent Ukraine was still a cherished dream and not a reality, was to bring women from an independent Ukraine to ICW meetings. Mrs. Drach was accompanied by Dr. Ludmilla Porochniak, a women's physician. The third Ukrainian observer was Oksana Kuts, editor in chief of "Through Women's Eyes" coordinator of the United Nations Department of Public Information in Kyiv Project. Ms. Kuts' attendance at the ICW meeting was sponsored by the UNWLA. The U.S. delegation at the ICW Conference included three UNWLA members: Anna Krawczuk, president of the UNWLA and member of the Board of Directors of NCW/US; Mary Tomorug, member of the Executive Committee of NCW/US and former vice-president of the UNWLA; and Iryna Kurowyckyj, Honorary President of NCW/US, United Nations NGO representative for ICW to the U.N. NGO Committee on the Family and Committee on Mental Health and Vice President of the UNWLA. The National Council of Women of Canada hos ted the ICW conference and accordingly, affiliated Ukrainian women’s organizations in Canada were well represented. Among those present were Jean Mekiteak, NCWC Convener of the Committee on Education; Helen Semeniuk, past national Convener on Human Rights; Maria Tkachuk and Helen Melenuk-Marko from the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada and Olha Zaverucha. Also at the meeting were Myroslava Zahribelny and Volodymyra Luczkiw, two observers from the World Federation of Ukrainian Women's Organizations. After opening ceremonies, which took place in the Canadian Parliament Building, conference participants began to address the issues on the agenda. The President of Canada's National Council of Women put forth a recommendation to "Support the Children of Chomobyl". U.S. NCW delegate Iryna Kurowyckyj seconded the recommendation and urged everyone to vote in support of the proposal. She emphasized that the Chornobyl disaster has no parallel in modern history and showed that even "peaceful" use of nuclear energy can be as dangerous as nuclear energy employed for war and that children are the first victims. The recommendation was fully supported by the Plenary Session. Dr. Ludmilla Porochniak read a statement in which she stressed the need to help the Children of Chornobyl and people of any age who had been harmed by the disaster. She also said that AIDS has become a major concern in Ukraine, and added that the need to educate people about the disease is urgent. During the conference, the Standing Committees held four meetings chaired by their newly elected coordinators. The group on "General Well Being" addressed the issues of health, environment, habitat and nutrition. Iryna Kurowyckyj, proxy for Dr. Sorosh Roshan, coordinated this group and was able to supply comprehensive information on the needs of victims of Chornobyl. UNWLA President Anna Krawczuk also gave an informative presentation on the Chornobyl disaster. Delegates were given copies of a statement which had previously been distributed to the official delegation at the IVth U.N. World Conference on Women in China by the WFUWO. Mary Tomorug attended the sessions dealing with Youth, Aging, Child and Family, and Migration. Oksana Kuts attended the sessions on Media and the Status of Women. On the last day of the conference, an inter faith service, consisting of quotations from the Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, Moslem and Bahai religions, was held. A new president, Pnina Herzog of Israel, was elected to lead the ICW into the next mille- nium. ICW board members and Presidents of National Councils representing their respective countries were invited to the home of the Israeli Ambassador for a reception in her honor. Iryna Kurowyckyj attended as Honorary President of NCW/US. Special receptions took place at Rideau Hall, the home of the Governor General, His Excellency Romeo Leblanc and Mme Leblanc, Honorary President of the National Council of Women of Canada. Another reception was held in the Grand Hall of the Museum of Civilization, where the first Ukrainian church in Canada was on display.
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