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14 “НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ВЕРЕСЕНЬ 2010 Let me end with a call to action coming o ut of this conference: First, do not be disillusioned. Democracy is a messy business. It requires patience, hard work, flexibility, and acceptance of imperfection. In my own country, we’ve been working to perfect our democracy for over 200 years and we kn ow that we cannot slacken our effort. Human behavior is often hard to transform. Democracy requires constant nurturing and vigilance. Civil society has a central role to play. Recognize the role that women like all of you have played and must continue to p lay. Learn from each other, work to overcome obstacles, be strategic, and work together. Work in solidarity with each other. You have more in common with each other than what divides you. Second, be agents of change. The story of women around the world is not solely about what women have to endure. It is even more importantly how women are transcending their situations and changing their world. They are not settling for things the way they are; they are catalysts for the way things should be. Third, recog nize your vital voice. Your voices need to be heard in the Rada , in the ministries, in the oblasts, in local offices, and throughout civil society. Progress for women and democracy go hand and hand. Women’s perspectives and experiences are crucial for sound policy development and governance. Without women’s engagement, important decisions that affect them, their families, and societies are made without their having a voice. A democracy without the participation of women is a contradiction in terms. Fou rth, engage with government , even when you may not agree on many issues. Work with key offices on your important priorities to advance progress and improve the lives of people. Fifth, be effective. Help women to become more successful political candidates by addressing the range of challenges they confront. And it’s not enough to be elected or appointed to government service. Women must also have the ability to exercise responsibilities effectively once in office. Capacity - building for governance is critic al. Develop networks and alliances to help women surmount barriers and work to break down the stereotypes that keep women from excelling in politics. Your advocacy should speak to people’s needs and aspirations. In sum, you must be the bridge - builders acr oss divisions, the problem - solvers, the strategic activists, the glue that brings communities together for progress, the voices for democracy. You have shown your commitment and courage to stand up for the values of democracy and you inspired the world. I am confident that you will be the change you want to see in Ukraine and the world. Women’s rights are human rights. We cannot settle for anything less. SOURCE: U.S. State Department. (See www.state.gov . ) ______________________________________________________ Editor’s Note. Melanne Verveer was born and raised in the coal - mining regions of western Pennsylvania, an area rich in the history of early Ukrainian immigration. Of Ukrainian heritage herself, Verveer was raised in a home where Ukrainian traditions were maintained; the Ukrainian language was the principal language of her parents and grandmother. As a young girl, Verveer attended Transfiguration Ukrainian Catholic Elementary Sch ool in Shamokin, Pennsylvania; she later attended St. Mary’s Villa Academy in Sloatsburg, New York, a secondary school established and operated by the Sisters of the Order of Mary Immaculate. She graduated cum laude from Georgetown University in 1966 and e arned her Master’s in Russian studies from Georgetown in 1969. In 1995, at the request of then UNWLA President Anna Krawczuk, Melanne Verveer graciously agreed to a telephone interview with Our Life, during which she shared fascinating professional and pe rsonal details of her life as a political activist (including details about her work as Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady under the Clinton Administration), as a teacher, as a woman, and as a mother. An article based on th at i nterview was published in the April 1995 issue of Our Life. Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
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