Draft bill #11424 of July 22, 2024 

Cosponsors: 19 MPs from the European Solidarity, Batkivshchyna, and Holos factions, as well as the Trust group with Mykola Kniazhytskyi as the first signatory 

Status: sent for review to the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy 

Who is affected: all residents of Ukraine, migrants, and the diaspora 

Summary: 

  • the bill will define key concepts of state demographic policy 
  • the Ministry of Demographics and Diaspora of Ukraine will be created. Its functions will be: 
    • developing strategic documents for state demographic policy 
    • deepening ties with the Ukrainian diaspora 
    • engaging the diaspora in the restoration of Ukraine, investments in the Ukrainian economy, and support for ongoing connections with Ukraine 
    • forming a community of people identifying themselves as part of Ukrainian society 
  • the Fund for the Restoration of Ukraine’s Demographic Potential will be created. It will collect funding from various sources to support projects related to the implementation of state demographic policy 
  • an advisory and consultative body — the Interagency Coordination Commission on Demographic Policy will be created. It will be managed by the Vice Prime Minister responsible for demographic policy 
  • mechanisms for funding state demographic policy will be established, including funds from the government budget, external donors, and grants provided by the Fund for the Restoration of Ukraine’s Demographic Potential. 

What is wrong: creating new executive bodies will not solve the demographic problems. Some powers will overlap with the existing powers of the Ministry of Social Policy. 

Alternative solution: 

  • to develop and implement a comprehensive demographic policy that will have an impact on all aspects of social and economic life for Ukrainians 
  • to create conditions to increase birth rates and improve living standards 
  • to implement state programs helping people to combine parenthood and work 
  • to facilitate the return of Ukrainians who left before and after the Russian full-scale invasion 
  • to involve diaspora representatives in post-war reconstruction. 

How to help the legislator: proposals concerning the draft bill can be sent to the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada on Humanitarian and Information Policy. 

Additional information: 

  • Ok, So What? podcast, exclusive episode: Demographic strategy is not about having children.