Linked with our presentation of The Eurasia Foundation, of the The Eurasia Foundation, and of the POLITICAL SITUATION IN UKRAINE., also of Magic Reasons for Prosperity.
She is one of the 1000 women proposed fort the Nobel Peace Price 2005.
She says: « Never bill for your personal time, and strive to accomplish all you started. »
Valentyna Dovzhenko – Ukraine
She works for the All-Ukrainian Charity Foundation of Hope and Good Will, and for the Union of Ukrainian Women, and also for Women for the Future.
Valentyna Dovzhenko (57) is actively engaged in public service work at national and international levels. Through governmental and non-governmental organizations, she focuses on developing strategies to resolve issues related to protecting the rights of women and children (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child), high risk groups (e.g. HIV/AIDS), poverty alleviation, violence and gender discrimination (UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women), and nonviolent conflict resolution.Valentyna Dovzhenko, 57 years old, was born in the town of Pyatykhatky, in the Dnepropetrovsk region of Ukraine. She is married and has an adult son.
Valentyna is actively engaged in public service work at both national and international levels. Through her positions on governmental and non-governmental committees and organizations, she focuses her energy on developing and effectively implementing national and United Nations (NGO) strategies to resolve issues related to numerous causes: protecting the rights of women and children (implementation of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child), and persons belonging to high risk groups (e.g. HIV/AIDS, substance abuse); poverty alleviation (humanitarian relief and social support of large and low-income families); fighting violence and gender discrimination (implementation of UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women); and assisting in nonviolent conflict resolution.
Valentyna began her professional activity as a processing engineer; after graduating from Dnepropetrovsk Institute of Chemical Processing, she worked with the Poltava Scientific Research Institute of Chemical Processing Equipment, became a senior engineer, and was then named head of the technical department of the Ordzhonikidze Mechanical Repair plant. Since 1981, she has held a chair position with the Executive Committee of the Ordzhonikidze City Council of the Dnepropetrovsk region; she is among the first female mayors in Ukraine.
In 1992 Valentyna, who also holds a Ph.D. in business administration, created and headed Kalyna Ltd., a joint Ukrainian-Russian venture that immediately made over 50 jobs available to women. Four years later she was named deputy head of the Kiev regional-state administration, and from 1997 to 2000 she served as Minister of the State Committee for Family and Youth Affairs, a position that made her directly accountable to the Ukrainian President and cabinet.
During that period she also represented Ukraine on the executive council of Unicef. From 2001-2004 Valentyna served on the Head of the State Committee for Family and Youth Affairs of Ukraine, during which time she took on the responsibilities of chairperson for the all-Ukrainian political association Women for the Future.
As a board member of the all-Ukrainian charity Foundation of Hope and Good Will, Valentyna has helped to develop seven programs and three sub-programs aimed at tackling critical social issues related to humanitarian relief. With the “Children are the Hope of Ukraine” project, she organized “World without Borders through the Eyes of Children, » an international drawing competition for children, and « Changing the World for the Better, » an international festival of creative works by children and youth from member countries of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Commonwealth. She also established a center offering assistance to children with impaired hearing.
To shift State priorities towards the protection of the rights of women and children, Valentyna has had to lobby issues previously not given any priority, a complicated job, particularly during a period of social transition. In her work she never allows gender and other stereotypes to get in the way of achieving better lives for families, women, and children in Ukraine. She never reckons her personal time; she always strives for accomplishing all she started. Valentyna demonstrates excellent diplomatic skills in solving even the most complicated issues. Her work is based on tolerance; she is able to find common ground with both a President and a child.
At age 54, Valentyna mastered the English language; at 55 she acquired driving skills – just two examples of her constant aspiration for self-improvement and continuous learning. Her lobbying efforts have been particularly successful, realizing equal rights amendments and protocols in Ukraine and for the UN. Concretely, Valentyna’s assistance has helped create, among other structures, 95 shelters for children, 62 family-style children’s homes, 87 youth employment centers, and 67 centers for the social re-adjustment of drug-dependent youth. Among her honors are the Princess Olga order grades ІІ, ІІІ and the United Nations Award; she is also a Distinguished Popular Education Worker of Ukraine and an honorary professor at her alma mater, the Dnepropetrovsk Institute of Chemical Processing.
Using state policy tools, those of Ukrainian non-governmental organizations, and the opportunities surrounding a growing women’s movement, Valentyna embodies the fight for women and children’s rights, as well as for Ukraine’s fulfillment of its commitment to raising the standards of living and well-being for its people. She has made great contributions towards the integration of the women’s movement in Ukraine and the creation of a network of resources for children, women and families. She is to be commended for her democratic management skills; direct participation conflict resolution at both national and international levels; and a personal commitment to and involvement in improving the lives of socially disadvantaged children and families. Raising social issues to the level of state policy priorities is Valentyna Dovzhenko’s great success and constant goal. (Read this on this page of 1000peacewomen).
UKRAINE, UK SHARE EXPERIENCE OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES … The International Christian Solidarity’s goal is to protect human rights, promote freedom of conscience, help all those suffering from repression, as well as children and victims of natural disasters. Baroness Cox participates in charitable activities in many countries, including Russia and Armenia. She is paying her first-ever visit to Ukraine under the invitation from the chairperson of the Council of Trustees of the All-Ukrainian Charity Foundation of Hope and Good, Lyudmyla Kuchma. (Read the whole article on Ukraine Embassy).
Women for the Future (Žinky za Majbutnie) is a political party in Ukraine. At the last legislative elections, 30 march 2002, the party won 2.1 % of the popular vote and no seats. At the last legislative elections, 26 March 2006, the party was part of the Opposition Bloc « Ne Tak ». (See on wikipedia).
links:
Seventh congress of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations held in Toronto;