Social and demographic aspects of women’s situation in Ukraine in the context of CEDAW

Abstract

This paper dwells upon the demographic features and some peculiarities of women’s social situation in Ukraine in the context of CEDAW’s requirements. It also reviews the implementation of these requirements in recent years. The study focuses on general issues (changes in the number of women and their age structure as well as the situation with gender statistics), the specifics of the marriage and family situation and health problems. Such trends are highlighted based on the results of the analysis: the fastest reduction rates of the number of women in working and reproductive age against the increase of the older women’s share; reduction of early nuptiality and adolescent fertility; not sustained decline of infant mortality, decrease of venereal morbidity. The latest changes in gynecologic cancer morbidity and mortality are ambiguous in Ukraine. The maternal mortality has begun to rise in recent years; cases of obstetric violence are common; the situation with HIV/AIDS is still unfavourable (and the share of women among AIDS patients increases). Now the improvement of the reproductive health of women in Ukraine is complicated by the absence of state social program on reproductive and sexual health. Due to a more significant share of elderly and other factors women have greater needs for medical care and social support, they are incredibly vulnerable to the current COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. At the same time, women suffer, mainly due to the low accessibility of high-quality medical care in Ukraine. The paper also deals with gender statistics in Ukraine. The current state of gender statistics is analyzed, and some recommendations for its improvement are proposed in order to form a proper information basis for the development of policies in the field of elimination of discrimination against women in Ukraine.