From March 9 to 13, New York hosted the first working week of the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women — a key international forum for sharing experience and developing solutions that shape global policy on gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Ukraine was represented at the events by a government delegation led by Deputy Heads of Delegation: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa, Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy Kateryna Levchenko, and First Deputy Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity Liudmyla Shemelynets.
The government delegation also included Deputy Minister of Health for European Integration Maryna Slobodnichenko, Deputy Prosecutor General Andrii Leshchenko, Chair of the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting Olha Herasymiuk, Member of Parliament of Ukraine Yevheniia Kravchuk, as well as other representatives of Ukrainian institutions and non-governmental organizations.
This year’s session is dedicated to the theme “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls” and focuses on expanding opportunities to protect their rights, developing inclusive legal systems, and overcoming barriers to equality and justice.
Mariana Betsa, in her statement during the general debate, presented to the international community Ukraine’s experience in addressing the unprecedented challenges caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, particularly its impact on the situation of women and girls in Ukraine.
The Deputy Minister underscored the numerous crimes committed by the Russian Federation against the people of Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of ensuring victims’ access to justice and holding the perpetrators accountable.
“Amid Russia’s ongoing war of aggression, women and girls in Ukraine face heightened risks of displacement, poverty, and sexual violence. At the same time, access to justice is hampered by Russia’s constant attacks on civilian infrastructure, the temporary occupation of territories, and ongoing Russian terror. Russia must be held accountable for crimes committed against the Ukrainian people,” — the Ukrainian diplomat stressed.
Speaking at a thematic ministerial roundtable, Mariana Betsa highlighted the pressing challenges faced by older women in Ukraine and identified key priorities for ensuring their empowerment and expanded rights.
On the sidelines of the session, the Deputy Minister took part in a number of thematic events dedicated to women’s participation in peace processes, recovery and post-war reconstruction, combating conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and developing mechanisms for building fair and inclusive legal systems for women.
As part of the visit, Mariana Betsa held a series of important bilateral meetings, including with President of the UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten, UN Women Deputy Executive Director for Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships Kirsi Madi, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, Finland’s Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, and Luxembourg’s Minister of Defence, Mobility and Public Works, Gender Equality and Diversity Yuriko Backes.
During these meetings, the parties discussed ways to strengthen international support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression and to restore a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, as well as the protection of the rights of women and children during wartime and other pressing issues on the international agenda.
Deputy Minister Mariana Betsa also gave interviews to leading media outlets on Ukraine’s efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace for the country, as well as joint efforts with partners to hold Russia accountable.
The diplomat also met with representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States. In her conversation with the Ukrainian community, Mariana Betsa spoke about Ukraine’s efforts to counter Russian aggression, including progress in peace negotiations and ongoing international legal efforts to hold Russia accountable for crimes committed in Ukraine.
On behalf of Minister Andrii Sybiha, Mariana Betsa thanked Ukrainian organizations in the United States for advocating for Ukraine’s interests.