“Family: Concept, Principles, and Policy” — First Seminar of the Aspen Institute Kyiv on Family Policy in Ukraine.

On 2 – 4 August 2024, the Aspen Institute Kyiv held the first seminar, “Family: Concept, Principles and Policy,” as part of the program “Person, Family, and Society.” The Institute launched this program at the initiative of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, and the Coordination Centre for the Development of Family Education and Child Care.

Yuliya Tychkivska, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Kyiv, emphasizes that we should already be working on developing new vectors of family policy: 

“In the dialogue, we seek to hear different points of view on the development of the family institution in Ukraine, to look at family policy from other, new perspectives through the prism of the challenges we face today. The diversity of competencies and experiences of the participants allows us to look at the family institution expertly and in the format of a multi-stakeholder dialogue, which allows us to find joint solutions more effectively.”

Oksana Zholnovych, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, emphasizes the need to create a social contract on family policy. She stressed the importance of involving a wide range of stakeholders in discussing issues related to family functioning:

“What is a family, how should it function, where are its boundaries, rights, prohibitions, privacy – these are the issues we need to build a social contract. Family policy mustn’t be the product of lawmakers and civil servants alone. Therefore, a broader stakeholder dialogue is a step towards achieving social agreement.”

Yuliya Sokolovska, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, stressed the importance of discussing the new conditions in which the family institution is currently operating, including: 

“What are the motives for starting a family and having children? Are we satisfied with the historical and educational tradition, and what roles should we stimulate for men and women? What is the ratio of state influence on the family through regulatory frameworks? – all these questions need to be discussed, rethought, and prioritized. Creating social services and support will facilitate cooperation rather than deepen the crisis.”

Iryna Tuliakova, head of the Coordination Centre for the Development of Family Education, emphasizes the importance of child care and support reforms. She notes that the primary goal of these changes is to ensure that every child can be raised in a family.

“The child care and support system reform is about a family for every child. Therefore, we must start a dialogue on family policy and its value for the country.”

Jin Choi, Chief of the Child Protection Section of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ukraine, noted that support for such seminars and initiatives is integral to developing family policy in Ukraine. She emphasized that such events help to engage a wide range of stakeholders in discussing and addressing critical issues and challenges related to modern Ukrainian families and their future.

The participants actively participated in the discussion of the seminar topics: 

• Evolution of the concept of family in the world and Ukrainian society: current trends and challenges families face in Ukraine. 
• The role of the family in modern Ukrainian society: the social, economic, and cultural functions of the family in Ukraine. 
• Current challenges for family relationships include war and martial law, demographic changes, migration, economic instability, and changing gender roles and their impact on family life. Possible ways to adapt family policy to these challenges are discussed.
• Prospects for the development of family policy in Ukraine: identification of strategic directions for the development of family policy. Ways of involving and participating in civil society, the state, and the private sector in forming and implementing this policy.

During the seminar, the participants examined the typology and forms of families and various family functions through the prism of the current Ukrainian situation. The participants also discussed the fundamental dichotomies facing contemporary Ukrainian society in the context of family policy. 

Particular attention was given to the social challenges emerging today, which are expected to have a significant impact in the future, especially in demographics, labor, human resources, freedoms, and human rights.

The dialogue on the future of the Ukrainian family lasted for three days. We brought together family policy experts and representatives of various industries and sectors to ensure the broadest possible diversity of views. In addition to discussing texts and ideas, the participants also worked on specific family policy initiatives that could address current problems and challenges. We hope the ideas developed will contribute to a broader understanding of the family institution and can become the basis for future policy vectors. 

Andriy Kulakov, Program Coordinator of the Aspen Institute Kyiv Community, and Denіs Poltavets, Director of Program Development at the Aspen Institute Kyiv, moderated the dialogue. Maryna Zakharova, Manager of the Human, Family, and Society Programme at The Aspen Institute Kyiv, coordinated the seminar. 

The program’ Person, Family, and Society’ is implemented by The Aspen Institute Kyiv at the initiative of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, the Coordination Centre for the Development of Family Education and Child Care, with the support of the EU and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ukraine.