GIWPS Executive Director Ambassador Melanne Verveer moderated a discussion about the empowerment of rural women and girls in Ukraine, a side event at the 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
Rural women and girls around the globe face multiple intersecting conditions of inequality, even during peacetime. In Ukraine, the situation is made more complex by the displacement of 1.7 million people and the ongoing humanitarian crisis, caused by the temporary occupation of Crimea and certain areas of the Donbas region as well as the continued military aggression against Ukraine.
This event addressed effects of reforms on access of rural women and girls to land resources and social services, including education, training, employment, business support, housing, medical care, and justice. Speakers also presented their observations on the challenges and opportunities for political representation and participation of rural women and girls in village-level policy decision-making.
More information, including a full list of speakers, can be found here. This event was hosted by the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations.
In January, GIWPS launched new research on women’s roles in promoting peace amidst ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Myanmar. The report can be accessed here.