The performance of the authorities and the State is measured by the level of development of the environment in which the children live. If children have good conditions for growth, education, health, parents and elderly people will automatically enjoy same quality life. This was stated by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman during the International Forum on Child and Youth Friendly Municipalities. The idea of the conference is the implementation of the UNICEF initiative the participants of which are over 700 municipalities all over the world.

"Children are the indicator of the performance of authorities. If at the community level, appropriate conditions for children development will be created, then the elderly people will definitely enjoy a quality life", said Volodymyr Groysman.

He emphasized that in Ukraine the UNICEF initiative Child and Youth Friendly Community has been operating not the first year, and we already have cities certified according to the criteria for the development of childhood. It was for such cities and communities that the Head of Government proposed to redistribute tax revenues in the amount of 1% from the budget of the region for the benefit of a particular city or community. These funds will be directed exclusively to programs for children and young people.

"We will initiate amendments to the Tax Code in 2019", the Head of Government said. In his opinion, this will be a good incentive for the municipalities. "Each community should engage in creating conditions and environment to guarantee the qualitative development of children and the youth, they must be involved in the decision-making process", urged Volodymyr Groysman.

The Prime Minister also reminded a recent Government's decision to support working mothers and provide additional state assistance at birth. "Issues of family values and child development are of topmost importance. The main indicator of the social and economic development of our state will be rise in births", the Head of Government stressed.

Background

In March, 2018, Ukraine officially joined the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Child and Youth Friendly Community Initiative. The Memorandum was signed in Kyiv between the Government of Ukraine, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the partners of the initiative. Commenting on the landmark event, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman emphasized that children are a key priority for the Government. "And today we are opening up new opportunities enabling us to create conditions for the development and self-realization of children and young people in Ukrainian communities", the Head of Government said.

He reminded that the Cabinet of Ministers is working to improve the system of social protection of children. It concerns the eliminating queue for admission in kindergartens by 2020, the financing of regional projects for the construction and development of sports infrastructure for children and youth, the allocation this year a sum worth UAH 1 billion on re-equipment of elementary school, raise of teachers wages by 75% throughout two years.

It is of utmost importance to have experience gained in the regions, first of all in Vinnytsia, where a "Vinnytsia is Child Friendly City" initiative has been successfully implemented since 2009. All decisions being made in the city are checked in order to make sure that opportunities for comprehensive physical and spiritual development of children and young people are taken into account. Moreover, children are involved in adopting of the necessary decisions.

The Child and Youth Friendly Community initiative envisages protection of 5 basic children's rights, including the right to education and health. Communities that will be active in protecting the rights of children and young people will receive a special status that will enable them to work more closely with other communities both within and outside Ukraine, to attract investment, primarily in social projects.