Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ms. Olha Stefanishyna delivered a statement at the General discussion of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, honorable colleagues and partners!

On behalf of the Government of Ukraine I would like to extend my greetings to everyone and support the important work carried out by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women to ensure gender equality. I would like to thank the Secretariat for preparing the format of the session, which provides for effective consideration of the agenda in the context of the ongoing СOVID-19 pandemic.

We firmly believe that equal rights and opportunities for women and men in all spheres of life is a prerequisite for the success of European integration. And our conviction is embodied in specific actions. The state gender policy is comprehensive and aimed at gender integration in all sectors, all over Ukraine.

We supported the Sustainable Development Goals. The Government has developed and approved 226 national indicators to shape gender-sensitive policies and monitor implementation of the mentioned Goals.

Pursuant to the objectives of the Beijing Platform for Action, we have strengthened the institutional mechanism. Since 2017, coordination of gender policy in the Government has been entrusted to the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration. To ensure concerted work of all executive bodies, we have established the Commission on Gender Policy Coordination under my chairmanship.

In 2020, at the initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, Ukraine joined the Biarritz Partnership, launched by G7 countries. We have made commitments to developing inclusive spaces, reducing pay gap, integrating gender component into education, combating gender-based violence and reforming legislation on social leave.

In order to reduce the pay gap, we have joined the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC). Ukraine adheres to the international initiative “Action Coalitions for Gender Equality”, launched by UN Women in cooperation with governments of Mexico and France, having defined 3 directions: “Gender-Based Violence”, “Economic Justice and Rights” and “Technologies and Innovations for Gender Equality”.

Unfortunately, Ukraine is no exception to the rising tide of domestic violence related to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, we are well aware that the negative consequences of the pandemic affect women and girls disproportionately.

To guarantee systematic and comprehensive counteraction to gender-based violence, the Government has developed and adopted the State Program aimed at combating this phenomenon.

In February 2020, the Government hotline 1547 for prevention of domestic violence, human trafficking and gender discrimination was launched in Ukraine. During the first year of its functioning over 10,500 consultations were provided.

Dear Participants of the Session!

In 2016, Ukraine approved the first National Action Plan to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 during the critical phase of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation. Despite the ongoing temporary occupation of Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, Ukraine not only implemented this plan, but also adopted the second National Action Plan 1325 in October 2020 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Resolution.

To counter manipulations around gender issues, we have developed and will implement communication campaigns to overcome gender stereotypes.

And this is hardly a complete list of tasks faced by the Government.

We are committed and consistent in our support for initiatives and activities of the United Nations and its agencies to ensure gender equality. We believe that tight cooperation with international organizations is a key for our success - as well as gender equality is a basis for civilized and sustainable society.

Thank you for your attention!