On May 14 Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa took part in the event «Voices of Ukrainian Women and Youth for Sustainable Peace in Ukraine», organized jointly by the Office of the UN in Ukraine, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN-Women, UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and with the support of the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine.

In her address, Mariana Betsa emphasized that youth and women are important drivers in building a successful Ukraine. “It is especially important that, amid the ongoing full-scale war of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, we are witnessing a high level of engagement from Ukrainian youth and women in public life, national defense, addressing the consequences of the aggression, and contributing to the post-war reconstruction of the country,” the Deputy Minister said.

The Ukrainian diplomat also stressed that Ukraine's recovery should serve as a global example of transformation based on the principles of justice, inclusiveness, and gender equality.

According to research by UNDP, young Ukrainians clearly articulate their vision of a just peace: holding war criminals accountable, ensuring the payment of reparations, and securing the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine.

As part of the event, Mariana Betsa met with Kayoko Gotoh, Director of the Europe and Central Asia Division of the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs who is in Ukraine to attend the conference. They discussed a wide range of issues of cooperation between Ukraine and the UN that are of mutual interest, and focused on the need to further strengthen cooperation to comprehensively address the challenges arising from the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.