“We are an unfriendly country to mothers,” — Minister of Social Policy Zholnovych

“We are an unfriendly country to mothers,” — Minister of Social Policy Zholnovych

Minister of Social Policy Oksana Zholnovych stated the critically low birth rate in Ukraine in 2023-2024.

"We all talk about the issue of birth rates. We have a critically low birth rate this year and last year. It is understandable — war is not the best time. But, in reality, is it only the war? Are we friendly to mothers with children?" she noted at the forum "Demographic Future of Ukraine: Strategy for Resilience and Recovery" in Kyiv on Monday.

The minister raised questions about: creating flexible work positions for mothers with children, setting up breastfeeding facilities in public places, accessibility for moving with strollers, and sufficient numbers of kindergartens in the country.

"We are an unfriendly country to mothers, and it’s not only because of the war," Zholnovych remarked.