Page 76 - 662

Ukrainians to remain young longer.

President signs law redefining official age of nation's youth

President Kuchma on April 14 approved amendments to the law
on social assistance and youth development, redefining a "youth"
as any person under the age of 35. Previously the term "youth"
inUkraine applied only to people under 28.
Andry Poliit of Parliament's Committee for Youth Policy, Physical
Culture and Sport said his committee had initiated the change in
the age parameters to provide young Ukrainians with additional
social assistance. Now, he explained, more citizens will have the
right to long-term housing construction and purchase credits.
The new parameters also mean the age limit for education has
been raised, even though there are already 2.2 million registered
students in Ukraine, and that more scientists will be able to
obtain grants and participate in research programs once 'available
only to their younger colleagues.
Oleksandr Yaremenko, head of the Institute of Family and Youth
Issues, a Kyiv-based think-tank, praised the initiative, saying that
lawmakers have taken into consideration not only demographic
changes, but also current economic conditions.
"In Ukraine's case those two are actually interconnected," he
said. "Lack of economic stability and low-paid jobs, along with
other factors, influence the demography. Today, Ukrainians tend
to marry and have children in their late twenties or early
thirties."
Poliit hopes the revised law will have a positive social effect and
help resolve Ukraine's housing crisis. "Until now, many young
families were excluded from the category of credit-takers. And to

79