Woman’s place is in the kitchen. In such a way candidate for Ukrainian presidency, Party of Regions’ leader, Ukrainian people’s deputy, head of the biggest faction in Verkhovna Rada Viktor Yanukovych determined one of the principles of his political force’s policy in the field of human rights and gender equality in Ukraine.

He made such a statement, refusing the debates with another candidate for Ukrainian presidency. "If she is a woman, she should go to the kitchen and show her moods there” (http://www.unian.net/rus/news/news-358158.html).

Thereby, one of the basic principles of present-day policy in the field of human rights – attainment of gender equality and liquidation of all forms of women’s discrimination – was refused.

With these words the Party of Regions’ leader demonstrated in public his disregard and refusal of such documents as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women and others, which were ratified by Ukraine and were a part of national legislation.

The candidate for Ukrainian presidency neglected the Constitution of Ukraine, which says that "there shall be no privileges or restrictions based on race, colour of skin, political, religious and other beliefs, sex, ethnic and social origin, property status, place of residence, linguistic or other characteristics”. The one and only question occurs – how does Mr. Yanukovych regard "the kitchen” – as restriction or privilege for women?

Furthermore, with such a statement he broke the Law of Ukraine "On Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men”, the Article 1 of which gives the definition of the concept "sexual discrimination” – "actions, aimed at limitation of equal usage or realization of human rights and freedoms for women and men”.

According to Article 24 of the above-mentioned law, people guilty of violation of the law’s requirements on ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men bear civil, administrative and criminal liability.  

The Ukrainian community, representatives of women’s organizations are worried about such actions of the candidate for Ukrainian presidency that cross out achievements of independent Ukraine in the field of human rights and gender equality.

We demand the public official apology before all Ukrainian women, whose talents, contribution to the building up of Ukrainian state and society were crossed and thrown.

We also demand the promulgation of official position of the candidate for Ukrainian presidency and his party on the gender principles of party building, bases of gender approaches and human rights observance in the strategy formation of development of Ukraine.