The Constitution of Ukraine: the foundation for protecting the rights of women and children

The Constitution is the fundamental law of our country, defining the fundamental rights and freedoms of every person. It enshrines the most important principle of a democratic society: a person, their life and health, honor and dignity, inviolability and security are recognized in Ukraine as the highest social value.

For the Mother's Home NGO team, constitutional provisions serve as practical guidelines in our daily work. We help women and children exercise their rights, access essential services, and overcome crises without separating mothers from their children.

✅ The right to respect for dignity (Article 28)

Every woman who comes to Mother's Home receives respectful, impartial, and nondiscriminatory treatment, regardless of her circumstances, marital status, age, or social status. We create a safe space free from judgment, violence, and humiliation, where a woman can feel supported, rebuild her confidence, and receive the assistance she needs to overcome a crisis.

✅ The right to housing (Article 47)

One of the key areas of Mother's Home's work is providing safe temporary accommodation to pregnant women and mothers with children under the age of three who have lost their housing or cannot live in safe conditions because of difficult life circumstances. We provide shelter where a mother and child can stay for the time needed to stabilize their situation, find permanent housing and employment, and regain independence.

✅ The right to a standard of living sufficient for oneself and one's family, including adequate nutrition, clothing, and housing (Article 48)

At Mother's Home, pregnant women and mothers with young children facing difficult life circumstances receive safe temporary accommodation, food, clothing, footwear, hygiene products, baby food, diapers, and other essential items free of charge.

At the same time, our team's work goes beyond meeting basic needs during a family's stay at the center. We also help women regain the ability to provide for themselves and their children independently. Our specialists help them replace and obtain documents, access social benefits provided by law, create a personal budget, find employment, and develop independent living skills.

Together with each woman, the team explores future housing options and develops a plan for overcoming the crisis so that, after social support services end, she can independently provide suitable and safe conditions for her child's life and development.

✅ The right to health protection, medical care, and medical insurance (Article 49)

We help pregnant women and mothers with children access health care by registering with a family doctor, undergoing necessary examinations and tests, and consulting relevant medical specialists. When needed, center staff accompany women and children to health care facilities, help them follow medical recommendations, and keep their children's vaccinations on schedule.

Whenever possible, partner organizations help provide medicines and medical supplies. Women at Mother's Home also receive psychological support.

✅ The family, childhood, motherhood, and fatherhood are under the protection of the State (Article 51)

The primary mission of Mother's Home is to prevent social orphanhood and preserve the family as the best environment for a child's life and development.

We support women in crisis so that they can overcome difficulties without being separated from their children. Temporary accommodation, social support services, and psychological, legal, and humanitarian assistance help mothers regain independence, strengthen their parenting skills, and create safe conditions for their children.

✅ Children are equal in their rights regardless of their origin and whether they are born in or out of wedlock (Article 52)

Mother's Home supports every child regardless of whether they were born in or out of wedlock, their parents' social status, or any other life circumstances.

The center's specialists help obtain birth certificates, register children's place of residence, access state benefits, and ensure access to medical, educational, and social services. Every decision concerning a child at the center is made with regard to their best interests and their right to grow up in a family environment.

✅ The right to professional legal assistance (Article 59)

Mother's Home NGO helps women exercise their right to professional legal assistance.

Legal support covers obtaining documents and social benefits, securing child support payments, establishing paternity, protection from domestic violence, determining a child's place of residence, restoring parental rights, and interacting with state authorities and local government bodies.

If a matter requires representation of a woman or child in court, Mother's Home NGO helps engage a lawyer or specialists from the free legal aid system.

We believe that a strong state begins with respect for every person's rights. Let us work together to make constitutional guarantees a reality for every woman and every child.

Happy Constitution Day of Ukraine!