How Are Women Faring In Ukraine? On the eve of the January 17
presidential elections in Ukraine, Olena Suslova, Chair of the
Board at Women’s Information Consultative Center in Kiev, offers
a glimpse of the status of women and women’s rights there. By
Masum Momaya AWID: What is the status of women and women’s
rights in Ukraine generally? Olena Suslova (O.S.): Women in
Ukraine have equal constitutional rights as men in the economic,
political, cultural and social fields, as well as in the family,
but there is some difference between formal legal equality and
reality. For example, women make up 48% of Ukraine’s labor
force, and while our Constitution guarantees equal pay for equal
work – and this is mostly observed – industries dominated by
female workers have the lowest relative wages and are the ones
most likely to be affected by wage arrears. Moreover, some
employers refuse to hire younger women likely to become pregnant
or women over 35. Generally, women also have fewer opportunities
for career advancement.