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many other interrelated issues. Part o f the discussions focused on Ukraine’s concern over its demographics. In the context o f eco nomic instability, fertility has dropped dramatically. In fact, since 19 9 1, the death rate has exceeded the birth rate. The decline in the standard o f living and the un certainty o f the economic future has made young fam i lies less willing to bring second and third children into the world. The Ukrainian government is trying to be supportive o f families, guaranteeing social payments in the form o f the above-mentioned monthly allowances to wom en with infants and to families with three or more children. Ukraine’s State Assistance to Families A ct provides maternity benefits, “ baby-bonuses” at the birth o f a child, children’s allowances, and temporary allowances for the care o f a sick child. Nonetheless, a high percentage o f pregnancies in Ukraine end in abor tion, and abortion remains the most widely used method o f birth control. Committee members chastised Ukraine for this fact, vigorously stressing that “ fam ily planning, as promoted by C E D A W , means access to contraception, not abortion.” One o f the touchier subjects in Ukraine is the issue o f domestic violence against women. Despite the lip service to wom en, Ukrainian society is undeniably patriarchal, and domestic violence is a critical prob lem. A s wom en become more aware o f their legal and personal rights, they are slow ly becoming more in clined to report violence even when it comes at the hands o f domestic partners, but there are factors that still inhibit wom en from lodging complaints. It is to the credit o f the wom en’ s and youth N G O s o f Ukraine that the L a w o f Ukraine on the Prevention o f Domestic Violence was adopted in Novem ber o f 200 1 and en forced as o f M arch 2002. In practice, the government has yet to devote significant attention to this issue. M uch discussion was devoted to the very pressing issue o f trafficking in women. Ukraine is in fact becoming depleted o f young working age women, particularly in the rural areas, and the dangers o f ex ploitation affect the lives o f an unknown but signifi cant number o f these women. Looking to the future, the State Committee on the Fam ily and Youth has a proposal for a comprehensive program for the preven tion o f trafficking for the years 200 2-20 0 5. The N a tional Plan o f Action also gave the program for the prevention o f trafficking o f women and children high priority in 19 9 9 -20 0 1 and will continue these efforts in the 20 0 2-20 0 5 Plan. Alerted by the analysis o f the trafficking situa tion presented in the “ shadow report,” the C E D A W Committee expressed concern with the provisions o f the new Criminal Code (adopted by Verkhovna Rada in April 2 0 0 1) which took effect on September 1, 20 0 1. Although trafficking in persons became a crimi nal offense in 1998, there was still a problem, as the shadow report indicated, with the legal definition o f trafficking. The wording o f Article 149 acknowledges trafficking as the paid transfer o f a person “ over the sta te b o rd ers o f U krain e .” This, argued the shadow report, overlooks the fact that women are often ex ploited in transfers that involve their movement within the borders, betw een reg io n s of, Ukraine. Another problem with the new Criminal Code is that it not only recognizes women as victim s o f trafficking, but also allows for the p ro secu tio n o f th ese sa m e wom en as p a rtic ip a n ts in prostitution activities. This policy is in direct conflict with the intentions o f the state, ex pressed in the N ew National Plan o f Action, to provide for the recovery and rehabilitation o f these women through the operation o f special centers to that end. In a personal aside, Valentyna Dovzhenko spoke about her visit to one o f the several Women for W om en centers funded by the Anti-Trafficking pro gram o f W inrock International in Ukraine. She related how much she learned from frank conversations with wom en who had experienced trafficking themselves and who now staunchly support govem m ent-NGO partnerships in the provision o f such vital humane so cial services. It is clear that there is a vision operating here: the government envisions helping the non governmental sphere provide services to the public, while the non-governmental civil society is learning to influence the decisions o f the state through frank dis cussion and electoral clout. This is all a new dynamic for Ukraine. The C E D A W process was especially fruitful this time around because o f the participation o f the A R G K C W S-led N G O s. The shadow report issued a chal lenge as well as expert advice to the government on how to better live up to its commitment to women. The questioning o f the C E D A W committee was thorough and incisive, professional in every respect. Valentyna Dovzhenko was not only informed and competent, but also charming. The committee made it clear that they have high expectations o f her and will be watching her effectiveness in pushing pro-women policies in the labyrinth o f Ukraine’s state machinery. She has no easy task before her, but she is certain to have the sup port, cooperation, experience, and constructive chal lenge o f her non-governmental counterparts. A t the end o f the day, Dovzhenko graciously thanked the committee for their substantive comments and constructive criticism. “ It’ s been a long time since I’ve sat for such a tough exam ,” she joked. “ And we congratulate you, Madame Minister, on doing so w ell,” replied Charlotte Abaka o f Ghana. "Y o u pass with high marks!” “НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ВЕРЕСЕНЬ 2002 21
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