Women, Peace and Security in the Face of Russian Aggression: Perspectives from Ukraine
As Russia escalates its threats against Ukrainian sovereignty, in particular by deploying troops and declaring independence of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions on 21 February 2022, the recent aggravation of tensions within the international community has drawn new attention to the situation on the ground. Despite global coverage of the crisis, the Western mass media has overwhelmingly failed to offer platforms to the voices of the region’s most deeply affected communities: members of civil society, especially women and other vulnerable populations.
Throughout the conflict, Ukrainian peacebuilders have continued to advance the security agendas, especially Women, Peace and Security (WPS). As a result of these efforts, in 2016, Ukraine published its National Action Plan (NAP) on WPS, for the period of 2016-2020. This critical step toward implementing United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 created mechanisms and monitoring tools to incorporate gender-responsiveness and human rights into the security and defense sector. Among many, some other civil society initiatives to promote the WPS agenda have included GNWP and Democracy Development Center’s (DDC) work on localizing UNSCR 1325 and a European Union-funded project by the Ukrainian Women’s Fund to create spaces for women’s meaningful participation at the peace and security table and in gender-sensitive education and implementation efforts. With the recent intensification of Russian hostilities, the involvement of women in dialogue and decision-making is more important than ever to ensure women and civil society’s safety and access to human rights.
On 4 March 2022, join the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders, DDC, and the NGO CSW/NY to hear directly from women peacebuilders and gender equality allies on the current situation in Ukraine.
Register Here