Taking into account this year`s initiative of the European Union to dedicate this day to strengthening support of refugee and asylum-seeking women, the gathering aimed to draw attention of the international community and the Ukrainian public to the situation in this area in Ukraine, as well as in the overall European context.

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Sergiy Kyslytsya opened the event. Emphasizing the need to protect women`s rights in general, the challenges facing refugee women, displaced women and those seeking asylum in Ukraine and in the world, he stressed the importance of the compliance with the international standards to eliminate discrimination and violence against women.

The event featured statements from Member of Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine M.Ionova, representatives of international organizations in Ukraine, particularly European Union, Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, UN-Women, as well as non-governmental organizations. All of them were unanimous pointing to the fact that women represent the majority of internally displaced persons in Ukraine. Therefore, it is critical to promote integrated approach to address their needs and promote their rights.

Particular attention was drawn to the statements of the representatives of the social initiative “Crimea SOS” T.Tasheva and A.Asanova, which provides a telling example of promoting the protection of rights and interests of the internally displaced persons and other people from the Eastern Ukraine and the Crimea, affected by the Russian aggression against Ukraine.