On March 10, the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, began in New York.

Ukraine is represented at the event by a government delegation headed by the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine - Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna, who is participating remotely.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Mariana Betsa and Government Commissioner for Gender Policy Kateryna Levchenko are the vice-heads of the delegation.

In her statement at the High-Level Dialogue, Mariana Betsa emphasized that despite the ongoing full-scale war of aggression by the Russian Federation, Ukraine continues to implement national gender equality strategies. "Women not only suffer from Russian aggression but also play a key role in the fight for freedom. Over 69,000 Ukrainian women serve in the army, and more than 10,000 take part in combat operations", the Deputy Minister stated.

Chairing the first Ministerial Roundtable on National Mechanisms for Ensuring Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls, Mariana Betsa stressed that Ukraine is developing gender equality units within state authorities, integrating them into the country's recovery process and implementing an updated National Action Plan for the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which also facilitates the inclusion of women in peacebuilding processes.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine also participated in the presentation of the book "Ukraine Is Not Silent," stressing the necessity of holding Russia accountable for its crimes, including conflict-related sexual violence. "Justice is an integral prerequisite for lasting peace for Ukraine", emphasized Mariana Betsa.

At the opening of the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, UN Member States adopted a Political Declaration reaffirming their commitment to gender equality.

For reference: the UN Commission on the Status of Women is a functional body of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It reviews the application of international standards for the protection and promotion of women's rights and develops proposals for their implementation. The Commission's sessions are held annually with the participation of the heads of relevant agencies of UN Member States.