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“НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ВЕРЕСЕНЬ 201 2 WWW. UNWLA.ORG 15 assistance to flood victims in the Zakarpatska o b- last in Ukraine that was coordinated by Soyuz Ukra yinok of the Zakarpatska oblast. Ev entually, all other UNWLA activities were facilitated in Ukraine. President Pashko was personally involved on many occasions during the visits of Lidia Cze r- nyk, Luba Bilowchuk (UNWLA Scholarship Chai r- woman 1993 - 2002), and other UNWLA represen t- atives. Ma ny times she graciously greeted them at Boryspil Airport in Kyiv with flowers. Her hu s- band, Viacheslav Chornovil, accompanied her on some occasions, warmly welcoming visitors from America. In 1994, Ivano - Frankivsk was the site of Soyuz Ukrayinok ’s Second Congress. The UNWLA’s first Vice President, Olha Trytyak, represented our organization as an observer. Representatives of other Soyuz Ukrayinok organizations (often called “Ukrainian Women’s Association” of Australia, Canada, etc.) from many countries in the Ukrain - ian Diaspora attended this festive event that cel e- brated the 60th anniversary of the First Congress held in 1934. It should be noted that during the S o- viet era, Soyuz Ukrayinok was forbidden to exist . This Congress gave Ukrainian women from a round the world the opportunity to meet, discuss, interact, and unite for a common cause: to define their role in the rebirth not only of SUU, but also of their ancestral homeland. The idea of founding a World Soyuz Ukrayinok (possibly to be headed by Aten a Pashko) was brought to the attention of the attendees. However, significant obstacles existed to its formation because it would require the approval of the leadership of all Ukrainian women’s organ i- zations in their respective countries in the Ukrain - ian Diaspora. In the end, a decision was made to hold another Congress in five years. In 1995, the Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women was held in Beijing, China, with thirty - five thousand women from all over the world in attendance. Iryna K urowyckyj, the N a- tional Council of Women USA delegate, and I, as a delegate from the WFUWO, participated in a workshop, “Environmental Disaster and Its Effects on Women and Children.” The workshop was chaired by Maja Hrudka, President of the Ukra i n - ian Wome n’s Association of Australia. In her ope n- ing remarks, Mrs. Sokolyk introduced the p a nelists that included Dr. Zoreslawa Nizhnik of Ukraine, and Ms. Susan Dessel, representative of the World Information Transfer, an organization promoting environmental lit eracy. I had the r e sponsibility to thank the government of Cuba for giving medical aid in their country to more than ten thousand children from the Chornobyl zone since 1986. The WFUWO Statement about the e f fects of Chornobyl disaster on the health of wome n and children in Ukraine and in the world was a c cepted and recor d- ed as Convention #54. We were delighted! This conference offered a large continge n- cy of women delegates from a now independent Ukraine a chance to participate in a gathering of such magnitu de. It was unnerving to learn that a man headed the official women’s delegation from Ukraine. Nonetheless, we had the unique oppo r- tunity to meet with delegates that included Tamara Melnyk, Olena Suslova, Lubomyra Boychyshyn, Maria Orlyk, and many others, not the least of which was Atena Pashko, who arrived privately. We had a unique opportunity to share knowledge, socialize, and discuss issues of interest to women in Ukraine and the world. “Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights.” The First Lady of the United States of America, Hillary Rodham Clinton, courageously and stron g- ly emphasized these words during her brief a p- pearance and speech. She knew that in many cou n- tries, including the host country of China, women’s rights were being violated. The audience exploded in a lengthy ovation. These words left a lasting i m- pression on me and on the thousands of women delegates from all over the world. In 1997, the First Lady accompanied Pres i- dent Bill Clinton on his official visit to Ukraine. Thanks to her Chief of Staff, Melanne Verveer, she found time to meet with the representatives of Ukraine’s NGO women’s organizations in L'viv, including Atena Pashko. The trafficking of women and girls from Ukraine was one of the subjects br ought up by the First Lady. Today, many years later, and in her significant role as U.S. Secretary of State , she speaks up when women’s human rights are violated. Thanks to President Barrack Obama, a new position of Ambassador - at - Large for Global Women’s I ssues at the Department of State was established, and on April 6, 2009, Presidential a p- pointment of Melanne Verveer to this prestigious post was announced. In 1996, Soyuz Ukrayinok of Ukraine cel e- brated its fifth anniversary, and Atena Pashko was reelecte d as President. During the course of my stay in Kyiv, we had an opportunity to discuss the democratization process in Ukraine and the prep a- ration of Ukraine’s youth for their role as future leaders of their homeland. The focus was on educ a- tion. Ms. Pashko especially emphasized the need to increase SUU’s membership and establish cultural and educational centers throughout Ukraine. The tenth anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear catastrophe in 1996 brought attention to
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