The “I`m strong enough!” civil initiative has joined the International Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) — director Margarita Chervonenko
On March 24, 2008, Margarita Chervonenko, the ex-wife of a well-known politician Yevhen Chervonenko, announced that the Ukrainian women’s organization “I Am Strong!,” which focuses on problems with divorce in Ukraine, has joined the Canada-based International Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID).
The mission of the International Association for Women’s Rights in Development is to achieve gender equality and the consolidation of women’s rights all over the world. As part of the Association’s cooperation with “I`m strong enough!,” AWID representatives will participate in events planned by their Ukrainian partners, such as public seminars and other programs aimed at improving gender equality in Ukraine. The director of the Ukrainian organization, Margarita Chervonenko, will also participate in international conferences organized by members of the International Association for Women’s Rights in Development in Canada in the nearest future.
“We plan to make use of the experience of our foreign partners to consolidate gender equality in Ukraine as well. Ukraine has chosen the European way of development, and this means, among other things, that we have to follow European standards in our attitudes towards women. Unfortunately, a woman getting divorced in Ukraine today can only dream about the equal division of jointly acquired property or fair payment of alimony,” says Ms. Chervonenko. “In European society, a family scandal not only has the power to dramatically change a politician’s ratings, but it can also lead to dismissal. If a man abuses his power at home, he is likely to behave in the same way in politics.”
Earlier, representatives of the “I`m strong enough!” Ukrainian women’s organization also established contacts with other international women’s organizations dealing with discrimination against women in all spheres of life. These include the European Women’s Lobby and Mama Cash, a Dutch organization. This January, the “I`m strong enough!” NGO became an Associated Member of the European Women’s Lobby, an international NGO founded in 1990.
In Ukraine, “I`m strong enough!” is already actively working with the Kyiv City Centre for Work with Women, which has been operating in the capital for 10 years and provides the women of Kyiv with free legal aid and psychological support when violence is involved. Since it opened its doors, some 40,000 women have applied to the Centre for help. The Kyiv Centre for Work with Women was mentioned in a Special UN Report in 2006 as an example of successful cooperation between the state and NGOs. In Ukraine between 10,000 and 15,000 women die from domestic violence every year, but despite such grim statistics, shelters where a woman in a hopeless situation can find help are simply being shut down.
“The number of women who have already applied to ‘I`m strong enough!’ testifies to the fact that an uncivilized divorce is not an exception, but a tradition in Ukraine’s court system. Can you name a single divorce involving a well-known Ukrainian politician or businessman, after which the wife received half of the jointly acquired property, according to law? There are no such divorces in Ukraine,” says Margarita Chervonenko.
“I`m strong enough!” plans to hold workshops with the participation of its foreign partners and Ukrainian experts. The first seminar, called “How to Become Strong,” is scheduled to take place in the first half of May 2008. A lawyer, psychologist, and representatives of the NGO’s foreign partners will participate in the seminar. All self-motivated women who would like to share their experience are invited.