International Conference “Women in Industrial and Financial Sectors of Economy: Agenda for Ukraine”

International Conference “Women in Industrial and Financial Sectors of Economy: Agenda for Ukraine” took place in Kyivin Big conference-hallat the National Academy of Science of Ukraine on May 21^st 2015. Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Centre (RECPC) and International Financial Corporation (IFC) hosted the Conference.

The Conference became apart of the project supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The project on introduction of resource efficient and cleaner production is implemented in Ukraine with financial support from the governments of Switzerland and the Republic of Austria. Gender equality, which is an integral part of sustainable development is a cross-cutting task for UNIDO and IFC. Drawing attention to gender issues helps to enhance the role of women in global and national development, in the first turn, due to transformation of the development model and establishment of knowledge economy and green economy.

During the event the following topics were discussed:

• promoting gender oriented policies as a cross-cutting topic of industrial development and financial stability;
• the possibility of expanding women's participation in industrial and financial sectors;
• impact of industrial and financial decline in Ukraine on women status in the labor market and in economic sector;
• enhancing the gender component in the industrial sector as a part of Ukraine's commitment under the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine;
• women as agents of changes: impact on increasing social responsibility of companies and success stories;
• strengthening institutional capacity for ensuring gender equality in industrial sector as a way to improve the efficiency of enterprises.

The Conference seniority level was high: the participants were welcomed by Petra Schwager, Project Manager, UNIDO; Guido Beltrani, the Head of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Ukraine; Johannes Aigner, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Austria to Ukraine; Ihor Shylovich, Director, Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Centre (RECPC);Chrystyna Turilova, Manager, IFC program “Investments in Resource Efficiency". Nationally recognized gender experts shared their thoughts and ideas on promotion of gender-oriented industrial and financial policy - Oksana Kisselyova, Program Coordinator, "UN-Women" in Ukraine; SammarEssmat, IFC Regional Gender Focal Point for Europe and Central Asia (Istanbul); Vasyl Kostrytsia, labor market expert. Approaches used by the international organization re assuring gender equity was presented by PetraSchwager,SammarEssmat, Chrystyna Turilova and Ludmyla Nestrylay, Communications Officer and Gender Focal Point, Swiss Cooperation Office in Ukraine.

Olena Uvarov, lecturer of the National Legal University named after Yaroslav Mudryi (Kharkiv), focused the participants’ attention on Ukraine's commitment under the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine.

Active discussion was initiated by the presentation made by Valentyna Gnezdylova, the Head of Central scientific and research laboratory at PJSC “Ukrgraphit” (Zaporizhzhia) who shared success stories of women working in industrial sector. Discussion was caused by the following questions: What does policy in Ukraine lack to promote gender equity? What is the role of industrial and financial sectors? How gender equity may be promoted in current conditions?

During the conference the book "Gender equality in economic sector: Ukraine's commitments to the EU" (compiled by Olena Uvarova, PhD) was presented; it is dedicated to gender equality issues in the economic sector in compliance with the European Community requirements. Discussions were held on a high professional level with participation of international and national organizations, the National Academy of Public Administration under the President of Ukraine, Chief Scientific Expert Department of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and others.

The international community has recognized gender equality as a priority of global development. The introduction of gender equality in the system of social relations has been recognized as the fundamental value that causes positive changes in the economic, humanitarian, social dimensions, and is a powerful potential for the progress of any country. Standards of equal treatment for men and women is a part of the EU legislation and relevant Directives. Ukraine has repeatedly confirmed that shares the principle of equal rights and opportunities for women and men, and by signing the Association Agreement, it has made a commitment to the full implementation of the European standards regarding gender equality in the labor market (particularly in the manufacturing sector). Ukraine historically has developed legislation that prohibits discrimination against women and includes special measures to improve their status in the public sector, particularly in the labor market. Unfortunately, the legislation is not always fully embodied in life, especially in the period of crisis in the economy, in particular, in the field of industrial development. However, the Ukrainian women have a strong starting position in order to change their status in the industrial and to enhance their opportunities in the real sector of economy.