The Council for Human Rights, Gender Equality and Diversity at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine underscores the importance of fulfilling the commitments undertaken by the Government of Ukraine within the framework of the international initiative ‘Biarritz Partnership’. This initiative is crucial for the promotion of gender equality at the global level and is an important component of Ukraine's policy of ensuring human rights and integrating gender elements into all aspects of state activity.

The Council acknowledges significant progress achieved in implementing the measures outlined by the Government of Ukraine's Action Plan. At the same time, there are several issues in ensuring the achievement of gender equality, primarily related to the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. Russian aggression has created unprecedented challenges. Military operations, destruction of critical infrastructure and humanitarian problems significantly complicate the implementation of key initiatives in the field of gender equality, access to education, healthcare and other areas identified by the Biarritz Partnership.

In particular, the actions of the Russian Federation have led to a significant increase in cases of gender-based violence, especially in the areas of active hostilities and in the occupied territories, an increased burden on women in the context of internal displacement, family care and basic needs during the war, and complications in ensuring equal access to education and training due to the destruction of educational institutions and migration challenges.

Despite all the difficulties, Ukraine continues to work on fulfilling its commitments, introducing innovative approaches to adapt the action plan to new realities. Important steps have been taken, including the expansion of assistance programmes for survivors of gender-based violence, including the establishment of crisis centres and hotlines, the implementation of educational programmes for internally displaced persons with a focus on gender equality, and the integration of a gender perspective into infrastructure reconstruction programmes.

The Council calls on the international community to support Ukraine in these efforts, in particular by funding projects aimed at protecting women and children from the effects of war and promoting the economic independence of persons with disabilities, supporting survivors of the CRSV in the form of interim reparations, technical assistance to ensure gender equality in the reconstruction of social, economic, and civilian infrastructure, schools, preschools, and shelters, which will facilitate the return of women to economic activity, and strengthening local governance in implementing equality policies, as well as to share experiences in implementing inclusive policies in times of war.

Ukraine, together with the international community, is able not only to overcome the challenges of war, but also to establish a model of sustainable development where human rights and gender equality are key priorities.

Ukraine's current struggle is a struggle for freedom, democracy and equality. Ukraine is grateful to its partners for their solidarity and support on this important path.