The UN, within the framework of the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, discussed the situation of Ukrainian refugees and migrants who were forced to leave their homes due to the Russian invasion. 90% of these people are women, children and the elderly. How and how can the international community help them?
Europe has not experienced such massive population displacement since the Second World War. As a result of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, 8,000,000 Ukrainians have become refugees, mostly in Europe, and another 1,300,000 people are internally displaced. Nearly 5 million Ukrainians have lost their jobs and, according to the UN, the incomes of 85% of Ukrainian women have dropped significantly.
Ukraine’s permanent representative to the UN, Serhiy Kyslytsya, thanked the countries hosting his fellow citizens.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my most sincere gratitude to the governments of all countries in Europe and beyond – unfortunately, Ukrainians are forced to seek temporary refuge not only in Europe, but also in America, Latin America, in Asia, in Africa – to give thanks for the hospitality and for helping those who suffered in the war. Thank you very much!” – said the permanent representative of Ukraine.
Sergiy Kyslytsya not only represents Ukraine at the UN, he is also the President of the Office of UN Women. UN Women is committed to fighting for gender equality and the empowerment of women. The organization actively helps Ukrainian migrants and refugees.
“More than 35,000 affected women have received humanitarian assistance from UN Women,” Kislitsa said. “This includes basic necessities: food, hygiene items, psychological and legal support, financial support, etc. UN Women partnered with more than 20 local women’s organizations and provided them with the necessary resources, helping to distribute humanitarian aid on the ground according to the rapidly changing situation.
War not only takes away jobs from women and pushes them out of their usual way of life. War constantly threatens them with violence, including sexual violence. Speakers at the UN reiterated the need to strictly adhere to the Council of Europe’s 2011 Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women. It is important to note that Russia has not signed this Convention.
Leyla Kayachik, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Migrants and Refugees, visited countries that have accepted Ukrainian refugees – Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Moldova and Romania. She met with members of governments and representatives of public bodies. These countries have never welcomed so many people in need before. According to Kayachik, they need additional resources, including help from the Council of Europe and the UN.
“There is a need to adequately protect these women and children from violence, labor and sexual exploitation, and, of course, from those involved in human trafficking,” Kayachik said. — Widespread measures are being taken by the authorities of the countries I visited, as well as by civil society. The Council of Europe will continue to help these countries.
She noted that there is a need to create a “safe space” for refugee women where they can talk about the traumas of war, including possible instances of sexual violence.
Georgian Deputy Minister Khatuna Totladze spoke at the event. According to her, Georgia understands the current situation particularly well.
“The Georgian government expresses its solidarity with the people of Ukraine and has mobilized resources to deal with the consequences of this devastating war,” Totladze said. “In Georgia, we understand very well what is currently happening in Ukraine. We have also experienced aggression and occupation by Russia, which has led to massive population displacements and flows of refugees from the occupied Georgian territories. These people still cannot return to their homes, and their situation is noted by the United Nations General Assembly in the resolutions “The situation of displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia, and the Tskhinvali region/North Ossetia South, Georgia “”.
Totladze noted that these resolutions are increasingly receiving support from UN member states.
The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women will continue its work in New York until March 17.
