EYP-UA Weekend in Kherson | Academic Preparation Kit

ACADEMIC PREPARATION KIT EYP-UA WEEKEND IN KHERSON 11-12 OF OCTOBER, 2014

International Youth NGO “The European Youth Parliament – Ukraine”

Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety ENVI Deadly infection: According to UNAIDS assessment, about 270,000 Ukrainians are living with HIV/AIDS. Taking into account Ukraine’s new National AIDS Programme (2014-2018), what further steps must be taken to prevent the spread of the incurable disease?

Relevance and Explanation of the Problem The first case of an infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the former Soviet Union was registered in 1987. At first glance, Ukraine was considered to be a country with low risk for an HIV epidemic. Nowadays, the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine has the highest level in Europe and is one of the fastest growing in the world as it has already surpassed the HIV/AIDS rate of 2% in 20101.

HIV/AIDS is an incurable disease, however, there is an Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART), which is aimed at supporting patients’ immune systems, thus minimalising the virus activity and preventing the outbreak of AIDS. Nevertheless, these life-saving drugs are not available for all Ukrainian HIV/AIDS patients. Thus, it does not prevent the AIDS outbreaks occurring as most of patients are left untreated. Although Deputy Head of State Service of Ukraine believes that the state policy on HIV/AIDS is clearly defined and being addressed by positive results today, will the Ukraine’s new National Programme succeed in decreasing the level of HIV/AIDS epidemic?

Key Conflicts As a social disease, the HIV epidemic has spread from social fringe groups, such as prostitutes, drug abusers and people involved in homosexual practices, to average population. Injection drug use, unprotected sexual contact and mother-to-child transmission are the most common ways of passing on the virus. According to data of Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, in 2013, out of 3898 children that were born from HIVinfected mothers, 3287 are HIV-positive2. Women now represent 45% of all adults living with HIV in Ukraine.

Furthermore, educational measures taken to raise awareness on the topic of HIV/AIDS are not effective enough. The issue is not spoken of, and patients experience vast stigmatisation because of their condition. What is more, the prevalence of the disease is not evenly spread throughout different regions, meaning there is a need for a close cooperation between local administrations and the government in Kyiv.

Outbreak of AIDS: Situation in Ukraine HIV-positive mothers and their children, statistics

1 2

1

Measures in Place The National Programme to ensure HIV prevention, care, treatment and support of HIV-positive people and patients with AIDS is the key strategic framework that guides the national response to HIV epidemic in Ukraine. It sets forth Ukraine’s national response in four key programme areas: prevention, treatment, care and support, organisational support and development3.

Under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the U.S. Government and the Government of Ukraine (GOU) signed a five-year Partnership Framework to establish greater cooperation in countering HIV/AIDS (2011-2015). The framework set up serves for the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) programmes in Ukraine. USAID’s HIV/AIDS programmes effectively caused the spread rate of HIV infection to decline from 27.4 percent in 2004 to 1.2 percent in 2010 in the nine regions assisted by USAID interventions4. With its support, the GOU signed a new AIDS law on the Prevention of AIDS and the Social Protection of the Population in January 2011. In June 2012, a new law on the Implementation of the Global Fund grants in Ukraine was developed and approved.

To promote the national leadership and ownership on the regional level, the National HIV/AIDS Coordinating Authority (the National Council) under the Cabinet of Ministers was established to ensure transparency and good governance throughout the various regions5.

Keywords Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Links for further research 1. People’s attitude towards Ukrainian governmental HIV Policy http://www.euronews.com/2013/04/17/ukrainian-government-%20condemns-hivpatients-to-death-say-protesters/ 2. Consultation on improving HIV-service http://www.unaids.org.ua/news/1568 by Maria Fedoruk

National AIDS programme: key programmers, objectives and expected results Combating HIV/AIDS: Programme Highlights 5The Main Objectives of the National Council to Counteract HIV-infections/AIDS 3 4

2

Committee on Culture and Education CULT In light of the adoption of the law on «Higher Education» in 2014, how can Europe support Ukrainian universities in improvement of their educational quality?

Relevance and Explanation of the Problem “It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop” - Confucius The adoption of the law on “Higher Education” in summer 2014 was welcomed in Ukraine as a major success for the Ministry of Education, the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy and the educational community in Ukraine.

The law on “Higher Education” that came into effect on 6 September 2014 includes provisions for many reforms that will bring Ukrainian universities into compliance with the Bologna Agreement 6 . Moreover, the new law introduces the following changes: recognition of degrees obtained abroad, decentralised and transparent administrative processes and simplification of bureaucratic procedures. In addition, more control has been given to universities and student self-governance.

For Ukrainian youth, adoption of the law means further European integration that will start by reforming of one the most problematic fields in Ukraine – changes in the system of Higher Education.

Key Conflicts The National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance (NAHEQA) was established as an independent self-regulated organisation that is providing fair and equal assessment of educational quality. NAHEQA is comprised of 25 members: 13 representatives of Higher Educational institutions, 5 departmental Academies of Sciences, 3 representatives from unions of employers, 2 delegates from National Academy of Science and 2 representatives of student councils.

Although the Bologna System was launched, Ukraine still faces obstacles in establishment of cooperation for exchange programmes with European countries.

Moreover, there is a limited number of scholarships and grants for Ukrainian youth.

Furthermore, it is a common practise for most administrations of Ukrainian universities not to target the promotion of available educational opportunities and internships enough.

An agreement between European countries designed to ensure comparability in the standards and quality of higher education qualifications.

6

3

Measures in Place Several educational programs have been created between Ukraine and the EU. For instance, the Lifelong Learning Program (LLP), that was created in 2007,is a program of academic trainings. LLP consists of six other sub-programs, including Erasmus exchange program for university students.

There is also a number of other programs and scholarships available for Ukrainian youth that are provided by various governments and foundations. For example, Chevening, Fulbright Scholarships, World Wide Studies, Havrylyshyn Fund, e.g.

Several websites like European Education Portal in Ukraine, are sharing this opportunities with their users.

Keywords Scholarship, grant, credits transfer system, Lifelong learning program, Erasmus, Chevening program, European Education Portal

Links for further research 1. Ukraine adopts new law to reform higher education http://kmfoundation.org/2014/7233 2. 16 changes in Higher Education http://osvita.ua/vnz/reform/42795/ 3. Institute of World Policy informing Ukrainians about educational opportunities http://iwp.org.ua/eng/video/25.html by Maryna Titarenko and Olya Budinskaya

4

Committee on Civic Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs LIBE Ukraine is home for a number of diverse ethnic groups that have distinctive cultures and beliefs. How can minority languages, culture and traditions be protected along with further promotion of Ukrainian language and national and cultural identity?

Relevance and Explanation of the Problem Ukraine is a multi-ethnic country – it consists of many ethnographic lands, which have been parts of multiple countries in different times. Of the overall Ukrainian population, 22,8% are Russian, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Greek, Armenian, Jewish, Hungarian, German and other diasporas. Therefore, finding a way to balance cultural diversity it a necessary step for Ukrainians to prosper in future.

The Declaration of the Rights of Nationalities of Ukraine guarantees free use of native languages in all spheres of public life to all national groups, as well as the creation of appropriate conditions for the development of their national languages and cultures.

However, the rights established in Declaration have been violated a multiple times, provoking sharp intercultural conflicts.

Key Conflicts Heated debate over the language issue has arisen between two largest ethnic groups of Ukraine, stimulating political and cultural conflict of a divisive nature. Ukrainian is a native language for the vast majority of Ukrainian citizens in Central and Western regions, while Russian is a native language for most of inhabitants of Eastern and Southern Ukraine 7 .Southern and Eastern regions of Ukraine are an industrial zone, which during Soviet times caused the migration of Russian-speaking population and assimilation of the local residents.

Ukrainian citizens are guaranteed the use of national minority languages in government, public bodies, companies and organizations in areas densely populated by national minorities. However, there is no clear criteria for admission of an ethnic group to a nationally recognised minority. Therefore, minority languages are only used when a minority group is a major part of population of certain regions like Crimea, Beregivskiy region of Zakarpatska oblast and separate parts of Chirnivetska oblast.

A current conflict is in Chernivtsi region that is a home to the Romanian ethnic group (0.3%). Provoking anti-Ukrainian sentiments already spread among the Romanian population with the rallying call for independence. http://www.razumkov.org.ua/ukr/poll.php?poll_id=436

7

5

Measures in Place Lviv Regional Council has established a programme for the development of the Ukrainian language, Ukrainian cultural and historical awareness of citizens of Ukraine for 2010 - 2014 years8. The programme suggests measures in education, media space, printing industry that ensure the development of Ukrainian language, cultural and historical awareness of citizens in the Lviv region.

In addition, there is number of cultural initiatives and organizations that are active in promotion of cultural awareness. For instance, “Folk Ukraine� is an international ethnocultural project that combines artistic and cultural initiatives, which aim to revive, preserve and promote Ukrainian traditions. Another initiative is the Parade of Vyshyvankas, held in Kyiv every year on the Ukrainian Independence Day.

Keywords Ethnic groups; cultural identity; national minority groups; minority languages; Ukrainian society; nation-building; separatist intentions.

Links for further research 1. Stephen Shulman. The contours of civic and ethnic national identification in Ukraine http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/0966813032000161437 2. Stephen Shulman. Asymmetrical international integration and Ukrainian national disunity 3. http://goo.gl/9WQQmS 4. TED Talks: Stefan Wolff: The path to ending ethnic conflicts 5. http://goo.gl/tIBb37 6. Graham Smith, Vivien Law and others. Nation-building in the post-soviet borderlands. The politics of national identic 7. http://goo.gl/aJN9Qf by Tanya Stadnyk and Vlad Kozachuk

www.oblrada.lviv.ua/programs/405.doc

8

6

Committee on Transport and Tourism TRAN Considering the world’s best practices of smart and multimodal transport systems, how can Ukrainian urban mobility be redesigned to provide comfortable transportation of citizens and reduce the burden upon the environment?

Relevance and Explanation of the Problem While much of the developed world is already using smart and multinational transport systems, Ukraine is still behind in technological innovations and eco-friendly transport. Even though some efforts have been made to improve the situation, the issue remains unresolved.

Currently, the environmental condition in many regions of Ukraine has reached a critical state. In many cities, concentration of pollutants in the air has is more than 10 times greater than the allowable limit. Car transport leads to specific forms of air pollution. For instance, driving wears down tires, which results in thousands of tons of rubber in the form of fine dust evaporating straight into the air.

Ukraine is lacking Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), which are the systems that provide communication between vehicles (e.g. car-to-car), and between vehicles and fixed locations (e.g. car-to-infrastructure). ITS also includes the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) for rail, water and air transport. In recent years, transportation planning is emphasizing non-automobile modes. Moreover, consideration of environmental impacts and mobility for pedestrians is essential. ITC is applied in developed European countries like Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and so on. For example, in Germany several millions of cars and trucks are equipped with onboard navigation systems considering real-time traffic and travel information. Norway is using electronic fee collection systems charging road vehicles, which are flexible, convenient and eco-friendly.

Following projects are currently related to automotive ITS: 

Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) provide communications between the vehicle and the roadside in specific locations (for example toll plazas).



Wireless Communications Systems dedicated to Intelligent Transport Systems and Road Transport and Traffic Telematics will provide network connectivity to vehicles and interconnect them.



Communication Access for Land Mobile (CALM) provides continuous communications between a vehicle and the roadside. CALM will provide a range of applications, including vehicle safety and information, as well as entertainment for driver and passengers.

7

Although much of the world is already using smart and multinational transport systems, Ukraine is still hesitating to implement those technical innovations and popularise eco-friendly transport.

Key Conflicts The most effective way to reduce air pollution is to promote use of public transport instead of private automobiles. Unfortunately, public transport in Ukrainian cities is in poor condition in comparison to European public transport systems. Firstly, public transport in Ukraine is not equipped to serve all the population needing transportation. This is a critical problem in big cities like Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv etc., where there is not enough sitting space and passengers are forced to stand on the buses, which raises safety issues.

Another important problem of Ukrainian public transport is underfunding for modernization. The greatest costs of public transport is maintenance. For example, out of more than 500 million hryvnias that have been allocated by Kyiv council KP "Kyivpastrans" for the business development in 2012, 210 million have been allocated for depreciation benefits. These funds could have been spent on almost 200 brand new buses “Citylaz”.

In big European cities, public transport systems are equipped with "smart" stops9.

An installation of GPS-systems on transport itself is required for the functioning of these stops, making the cost of the product rather expensive. In Kyiv nowadays there are only 30 “smart” stops.

Measures in Place The first and the most popular way to solve the problem of pollution and traffic jams is cycling. Despite successful experience of such developed countries like Germany and Great Britain (where two-wheelers annually generate profits of more than three billion pounds every year), officials in Ukraine are still confident that cyclists are unprofitable for Ukrainian economy. Lviv remains to be one of the few cities in Ukraine where all the conditions for safe urban bicycle use are provided.

Euro 2012 has pushed modernization of the public transport system. For instance, Ukrainian railway has made efforts to renovate its infrastructure and provide online ticket booking system. Additionally, in the most populated Ukrainian cities public transportation was improved.

electronic score board that shows the time of arrival of the next vehicle

9

8

Keywords Multimodal transport systems, Ukrainian mobility, ITS, Public transport, Ukrzaliznytsa.

Links for further research 1. http://transportsystems.lv/ 2. http://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/op-ed/what-can-ukraine-learn-from-theswiss-public-trans-114917.html 3. http://www.bombardier.com/en/transportation/productsservices/transportation-systems.html 4. http://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/uia-aspires-transformationboryspil-airport-powerful-european-transport-hub/

by Julia Kharchenko and Sophia Bilenko

9

10

INITIATED BY

11