On March 12-14, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa visited New York to participate in the high-level events at the UN Headquarters. As part of her working visit, she delivered Ukraine’s national statement at the General Debate of the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, held a series of important bilateral meetings with senior UN officials and heads of delegations of UN Member States, and attended the screening of the documentary People of Steel, a special event organized by the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN for the international community.
In her address at the Commission’s General Debate, Mariana Betsa underscored Ukraine’s unwavering commitment to protecting women’s rights and advancing gender equality across all spheres of life, despite the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation.
"For over eleven years, Russia’s ongoing war of aggression has inflicted immense human casualties, destruction, and triggered one of the largest displacement crises in Europe. Yet, in the face of these challenges, Ukraine has only strengthened its determination and commitment to gender equality. The Government of Ukraine has made significant steps in promoting gender equality, preventing gender-based violence, and enhancing women's leadership," the Deputy Minister stated.
During her visit, Mariana Betsa held meetings with UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Thomas Fletcher, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten, and UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris. The Deputy Minister expressed deep appreciation for the UN’s continued support and called for strengthening cooperation on human rights protection, mitigating the consequences of Russia’s aggression, and ensuring accountability for Russia’s war crimes.
The Deputy Minister engaged in bilateral meetings with Luxembourg’s Minister of Defence and Gender Equality, as well as with the Permanent Representatives of the Member States of the UN Security Council: Denmark, Greece, Sierra Leone, and Algeria. Mariana Betsa also met with the Permanent Representatives of Finland and Malta. Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation within international organizations, namely supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, advancing a just and lasting peace, and ensuring the return and rehabilitation of Ukrainian children forcibly deported by Russia.
As part of her program, Mariana Betsa also participated in the screening of the documentary People of Steel, which chronicles the heroic defense of Mariupol and the resilience of Ukrainian soldiers, as well as the scale of war crimes committed by Russia against Ukraine’s civilian population. In her remarks to the audience, the Deputy Minister stressed the importance of raising global awareness of the realities in Ukraine and thanked the filmmakers for their important contribution to the fight for truth and justice.