OTTAWA—Much has been accomplished since women-libbers started burning bras some 50 years ago. Yet, as the world marked another International Women’s Day on March 8, it was clear that the struggle is not over. Take Rush Limbaugh, for instance, and his sexual slurs against a law student. He apologized but major sponsors of his radio show are withdrawing support: women matter.
But not in Ukraine. There, the violation of human rights, women’s in particular, is endemic. Not only have its leaders failed to address issues like equality in the workforce, equal pay for work of equal value, or sharing family and household responsibilities, their pejorative language stemming from an antiquated mindset tells the tale.
Consider this.
Earlier this month the Speaker of Ukraine’s Parliament, Volodymyr Lytvyn, who holds a doctorate in the now passé discipline—Soviet ideology, supposedly the sina qua non of the underprivileged—forgot his lessons. During the session designed to bolster gender inclusivity—there were no women in Ukraine’s Cabinet until last month—he set forth that women are lesser human beings because they were created from Adam’s rib. And, to date, sees no reason to apologize.
He is not alone. President Viktor Yanukovych leads the way as his party cronies repeatedly insult women by calling female activists prostitutes and sluts and menacing remarks. Like those during former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s trial: a woman’s job is not in politics.
She is his nemesis, and his hate for Yulia, as she is fondly called, is politically catastrophic for him, his country, and undoubtedly his place in history. Yet he persists. President Yanukovych has allowed—there is no independent judiciary in Ukraine—the incarceration of one of the world’s most brilliant women politicians and in so doing crossed out 20 years of democratic progress. This is unacceptable and it must stop.
Last month the Canadian Group for Democracy in Ukraine published an open letter promoting a grass roots movement modeled on the activism which freed Nelson Mandela and Aung San Sui Kyi. The purpose is to proclaim globally that last century’s men have no place in politics, and they must go. Men, who serve their egos and their pockets instead of the women and men of Ukraine must go. And the president who is motivated by brute force in dealing with a smart political opponent primarily to show her who’s the boss, must go.
Many, including Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper, have already spoken out the unacceptable developments. The latest condemnations come from Denmark’s female prime minister saying Yulia has become a symbol for freedom, a very powerful force. Swedes are defying Ukraine’s authorities and visiting her in prison. The foreign ministers of Sweden, Britain, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany wrote an open letter in the New York Times condemning the events.
Last week Canada’s Foreign Affairs and International Relations and International Development Standing Committee heard testimonials from Ukraine’s experts about the situation in Ukraine. Ms. Tymoshenko’s situation was found to be particularly troubling: how can there be a fair election in October when she and other opposition leaders are incarcerated? And how can Canada help to ensure that one bad regime is not replaced by another in an emerging democracy?
While the usual approaches were offered—more election observers, institutional capacity building, youth exchanges—there was also recognition of their limitations. Election fraud persists; monies directed at reforms get pocketed by insiders; and the foreign-educated youth tends to stay away from an unpromising future in the lawless state.
Obviously the key is to punish offenders not society. “Right now most Canadian aid goes directly to Ukraine’s government. This should be reviewed,” said Alexandrine Latendresse, MP for Circonscription de Louis-Saint-Laurent.
Canada might go even further. It can take a lead in promoting a united global front in punishing the culprits: restrict their travel and freeze their assets in bank accounts in the free world. Nothing would get their attention as quickly as this!
The women’s movement has come a long way. Another milestone victory would be Yulia’s release. But the rest of us need to help. Some can spread the word about the feisty freedom fighter, confer awards, write, make documentaries; any action to keep her in the public eye. The young FEMEN women will bare their breasts, as was done before, in order to put pressure on an unjust and anti-woman regime. The rest of us can speak to our political representatives that, as Ms. Latendresse concludes, “A stable, prosperous and democratic Ukraine is the best way to assist Russia and Belarus in their own efforts towards democracy.”
And while doing so remember that if democracy can’t make it in Ukraine and the former Soviet space, what hope is there for the Arab Spring? Much is riding on Yulia’s freedom and Ukraine’s election. Stay tuned.
Oksana Bashuk Hepburn is the former Director of the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Ms. Tymoshenko does not have access to the internet in prison. To send messages of support please write her at Kachanivska Correctional Services 54, Kharkiv 61124, Vyshnevyj Provoluk,16 Ukraine.
