EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO MEET

    The next meeting of the UWC Executive Committee has been scheduled for Saturday, May 1, 2004, 9AM at the UWC offices in Toronto. Thereafter at 2:30PM the UWC’s Anti-Trafficking Taskforce will convene its initial organizational and planning session.

UWC ISSUES STATEMENT ON SLAVE TRAFFICKING

    On March 8, 2004 the UWC issued a Statement on Slave Trafficking to the forty-eight session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations. The Statement analyzed the current situation with an emphasis on the Ukrainian problem:

“Ukraine is one of the largest sources for slave traders:

• Ukrainian women are the largest group trafficked in Turkey;

• Ukrainian women are the second largest group outside U.S. military bases in Korea;

• Women from the CIS countries comprise 70 per cent of trafficking in Israel;

• Ukrainian women constitute the largest foreign group trafficked in the Netherlands;

• 70 percent of Ukrainian women in Poland were trafficked;

• Women from Central, East Europe and CIS countries constitute 80 percent of trafficking in Germany.

• Other large markets for the slave trade in Ukrainians include: Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Spain, Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro including Kosovo), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Czech Republic, Croatia, United Arab Emirates, Syria, China, Canada and Japan.”

• The Statement goes on to “call on the United Nations’ systems and governments to:

• Marshal the political will to combat trafficking;

• Undertake prevention and awareness campaigns;

• Encourage and support the activities of non governmental organizations;

• Promulgate national legislation to punish traffickers and their facilitators;

• Prioritize law enforcement efforts to arrest and convict traffickers;

• Provide humanitarian services to victims and assist in their reintegration into society;

• Ratify and implement the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, including the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish the Trafficking of Persons, Especially Women and Children;

• Develop international regional and bilateral cooperation  with countries of origin, transit and destination;

• Accord special focus on the new front for traffickers in Central and East Europe.

STATEMENT ON UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC PATRIARCHATE

    The subject of the Ukrainian Catholic Patriarchate has been an issue for a long time, perhaps more significant since the Synod of Ukrainian Catholic bishops in 2002 voted to proclaim the Patriarchate and submitted this proposal to the Vatican. While the Holy See’s position of seeking the consent of the Orthodox churches on this issue, in particular that of the Moscow Patriarchate was a matter of conjecture, in recent weeks conjecture became fact when the Holy See enlisted the opinion of Moscow.  Moscow, in turn, voiced strong opposition, then forwarded the Holy See’s proposal to other Orthodox patriarchs and primates. Their reaction can only be described as violent.  The UWC’s Statement issued in early March, voiced unequivocal support for the Ukrainian Catholic Patriarchate, criticized the Holy See for submitting this matter for Moscow’s consideration, decried the reaction of the other Orthodox patriarchs and primates and urged the Ukrainian Catholic hierarchy and Ukrainian Christians to manifest steadfast solidarity and support.

UWC ABOUT “ZAKORDONNI UKRAINTSI” LEGISLATION

    In early March the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (VRU) passed a revised version on the status of Ukrainians residing outside Ukraine. This review was necessitated by President Kuchma’s veto of the prior bill passed in November 2004. The new legislation makes two substantive revisions. It eliminates a declaration in the preamble that “zakordonni ukraintsi” are an integral part of the Ukrainian nation. In lieu of the paragraph stating that their rights and privileges are those of Ukrainian citizens, excepting political rights to elect, be elected, receive a pension unless same is accommodation  pursuant to separate treaty between Ukraine and the individual’s country of domicile and exempting the subject from military service, the revision merely grants rights, privileges and duties accorded or exacted to/from Ukrainian citizens except political ones provided the subject is on Ukrainian territory legally. Both versions allow for five year visitors’ visa without fee.  The UWC’s statement voices its disappointment with the new law. Previously, the UWC had tried to impress upon the President of Ukraine the need for legislation bringing Ukraine closer to Ukrainians living abroad by reaffirming that they were an integral part of the Ukrainian nation and affording them the status of Ukrainian citizens except political rights and pension privileges. Unfortunately, the President did not heed our words and managed to convince a majority of the VRU, including the “national democrats.”

PASCAL GREETINGS

    As always at this time, we send greetings to the Ukrainian people wherever situated, the hierarchy and spiritual leadership of all our Christian churches, the President, Government and Parliament of Ukraine, it military personnel and all those who wish the Ukrainian people well. Easter is always an introspective time, particularly, because of the symbolism of Christ’s Resurrection providing renewed hope for those oppressed, suffering or deprived. As we near the thirteenth anniversary of our nation’s independence, we look towards that glimmering light at the end of the tunnel. Indeed that light for our people in Ukraine and elsewhere isbecoming increasingly more pronounced. Christ has risen. Let us glorify Him!