Gender inequality in Ukraine

Gender inequality in Ukraine refers to economic, social, political and education inequalities between men and women of Ukraine experienced due to their gender. According to multiple reports it is an ongoing issue on each level of the Ukrainian society, where discrimination of women is an inevitable part of everyday life.[1] The root causes of the circumstances are reportedly related to patriarchal attitudes and deeply entrenched gender stereotypes of the traditional Ukrainian culture. The cultural environment in Ukraine is aggravated by a poor rule of law, insufficient power of the social institutions and lack of political will.[2]

In the response of concerns the Ukrainian government tried to develop various legislation, especially concerning institutional and personal gender discrimination. Unfortunately the practical implementation of the legal system and the law enforcement remain to be inadequately performed and the Ukrainian women still face different kinds of discrimination (legal, political etc.) The practice affects many aspects of their everyday lives from career development to health issues and results in a high level of violence directed towards women.[3][4]

Since the beginning of 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, men from 18 to 60 years old are prohibited from leaving Ukraine, systematically putting men at greater risk of harm and death.[5][6][7]

In 2017, Ukraine ranked 88th out of 189 countries on the United Nations Development Programme's Gender Inequality Index (GII).[8]

  1. ^ The Human Rights Encyclopedia 2001, p. 549, Ukraine.
  2. ^ Gender Equality Archived 2 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine United Nations Ukraine
  3. ^ M. Rampoldi and D. Nanni Gender issues in the Ukraine 9 March 2017
  4. ^ In the Crosscurrents 2015, p. 39, Gender based violence.
  5. ^ Gilbert, Asha C. (25 February 2022). "Reports: Ukraine bans all male citizens ages 18 to 60 from leaving the country". USA Today. USA Today. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  6. ^ Maguire, Amy (8 March 2022). "Why banning men from leaving Ukraine violates their human rights". The Conversation. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  7. ^ Carpenter, Charli (11 March 2022). "Male-Only Conscription Will Undermine Ukraine's War Effort". World Politics Review. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  8. ^ Table 5: Gender Inequality Index United Nations Development Programme