The representation of women in the parliament and in the bodies of state power of all levels serves as a marker of social maturity regarding the issue of gender. Unfortunately, Ukrainians are not ready to conceive of a woman as an equally strong player on the political stage.
Back in 2003 Ukraineas the UN member state has undertaken a commitment to fulfill the point #6, which is devoted to the equality of rights between men and women, by 20015. This commitment is a part of the UN Millennium Declaration “Millennium Development Goals”.In particular, this document determines exact indices of proportional participation of women in elective and representation bodies: in 2007 these institutions should employ not less than 13 % of women, in 2011 - 20%, and in 2015 - already 30%. However, in practice these numbers are significantly lower.
Thus, if we talk about the local level then, for example, in Lviv city council the number of female deputies, in comparison with previous convocation, decreased in 5,5%. In contrast with 11 female deputies of 5th convocation today we have only 6. If to analyze broader time period, the current percentage is one of the lowest during the last 20 years:
|
І convocation |
14/154 |
9,0% |
|
ІІ convocation |
4/50 |
8,0% |
|
ІІІ convocation |
5/90 |
5,6% |
|
IV convocation |
10/90 |
11,1% |
|
V convocation |
11/90 |
12,2% |
|
VI convocation |
6/90 |
6,7% |
On the level of oblast, the situation is not more positive: only three out of twenty rayon councils are run by women, if to convert it in percents - only15 % of rayons. Namely, this can be seen in Brody, Mykolaiv and Radekhiv rayon councils. On the governmental level, which until quite recently was ruled by patriarchate, only one woman appeared - the Head of Gorodok rayon state administration.
In Lviv oblast council during the last three terms of office the number of women did not exceed 8 %:
|
IV convocation |
6/77 |
7,8% |
|
V convocation |
8/120 |
6,7% |
|
VI convocation |
9/116 |
7,8% |
The experts agree that the lower is the representation body in the power structure (from the all-Ukrainian to the local levels) the more women it should include. Considering the low number of women in oblast and local bodies of power, it is not a surprise, that all the convocations of Verkhovna Rada were gender imbalanced. Diachronic approach shows the following picture: afterUkrainegained independence the female deputies comprised only 3 % in Verkhovna Rada. The elections in 1994 and 1998 have slightly changed the situation with gender balance and raised the level from 5,7 to 8,1 % respectively. However, in 2002 the part of women in the parliament decreased again and equaled 5,3%. After the next elections percentage of women among the people's deputies did not change and remained on the level of 8,2-8,5%[1]. In addition, traditionally starting from 1991 the Prime-Minister and his Deputies were only male. In Azarov's government there is only one female minister.
As regards the current elections, at the moment it is too early to talk about the future gender balance in Verkhovna Rada. We know only one thing: the Parliament will be patriarchal and the number of female deputies will reach 120, as it is determined in the UN Millennium Declaration “Millennium Development Goals”. According to the prognostic research, which was conducted by the National Democratic Institute, the mixed voting system, which is used in 2012, will provide the Parliament with 6%[2] of women. Among the famous majoritarian candidates, who will run for elections in Lviv oblast, the number of women is low. In the agreed list of candidates from the United opposition and All-Ukrainian Union Svoboda the number of women is the highest - they are four: Iryna Sekh, Iryna Farion, Tetiana Chornovil and Lidiia Koteliak (30%). In the UDAR party there are two female candidates - Oksana Yurynets and Larysa Fedoriv (16,7%). The Party of Regions supported only the male majoritarial candidates in the districts. It is important to mention, that last time when the elections had majoritarian component (2002) all 12 winners in districts were men [3].
In a country, where 55% of the voters are women, their representation in the main legislative body should definitely increase
In a country, where 55% of the voters are women, their representation in the main legislative body should definitely increase. In case of gender imbalance, Verkhovna Rada remains aside the gender problems inUkraine. We can also talk about the lack of attention to the social and humanitarian issues, which always had higher priority for the female deputies than for their male fellow-workers. The researchers frequently bring the example of Scandinavian countries, where the percentage of women in power is the highest inEurope, and where important social changes took place during the last decade. First of all, we talk aboutFinland, which was governed by Tarja Halonen (2000-2012) during two terms in a row and where the number of women in the Parliament equals 40%.
In order to provide the equal representation of women in the Ukrainian parliament, in2011 abill, which provided the changes in the Law of Ukraine On the elections of People's Deputies of Ukraine, was drafted. In particular, it provided "mandatory representation of men and women in every fivesome of candidates, with no less than 2 candidates of the same gender [4]." In May the bill came up for renewal. The similar quota arrangement (20 % of women in the state elective bodies) was put to vote in Verkhovna Rada ofUkrainein 2010, however, it did not gain the needed number of votes.
At the moment, the only legislative framework concerning the female deputies is Article 15 of the Law of Ukraine On Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities of Women and Men, which says that "political parties and electoral blocs shall provide for the representation of women and men in the corresponding electoral lists during the nomination of candidates for people’s deputies of Ukraine in the national multi-mandate constituency [5]." However, this norm is too general and exists only de jure, because the current Law of Ukraine On the Elections of People's Deputies of Ukraine has no mechanisms, which would provide the participation of women in the election process.
[1] The data of the Central Election Commission.
http://vgolos.com.ua/politic/news/47566.html
[3] The data of the Central Election Commission.
http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb_n/webproc4_1?id=&pf3511=40344