With DPPA Support, Strengthening Women’s Voices in Peace and Security in Ukraine
Through funding from its Multi-Year Appeal, the Department organized a conference on women and conflict held in Chișinău, Moldova.
For the second year in a row, the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), with funding from its Multi-Year Appeal, joined forces with UN Women and the Peace and Development Teams in Ukraine and Moldova to bring together women civil society representatives from across Eastern Europe and South Caucasus regions to share their experiences in the implementation of the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda.
The 2024 Open Day for Regional Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Dialogue gathered more than 60 participants from Ukraine, Moldova and the South Caucasus. Director for the Europe and Central Asia Division of the UN Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace operations, Kayoko Gotoh, in her opening remarks, said it was vital that the voices of women and girls are not sidelined amid conflict and geopolitical tensions. She emphasized that equal and meaningful participation in decision-making processes is crucial for advancing peace and security in the region. “Abolishing structural gender inequalities is a matter of equity and right, but also a powerful means to improve the chances of success of peace and political processes,” she said.
The participants shared their stories of overcoming challenges in the implementation of the WPS agenda in their communities and countries; identified priorities and suggested solutions. They stressed the need to engage women, girls, and youth in peacebuilding and decision-making processes. Participants noted the need to ensure women’s rights are embedded into national policies and emphasized that inclusive leadership was vital to ensure sustainable peace. Discussions also focused on the current challenges and opportunities faced by countries in the region in promoting women’s participation in peace and security efforts.
Tetiana Ivanina, chairperson of the civil society organization Bureau of Gender Strategy and Budgeting (Gender Bureau), a Ukrainian non-governmental organization focusing on gender equality and women’s empowerment, pointed out the paradox of women being heard in discussions, yet often excluded from decision-making spaces: “Women are not decoration. They should be involved at the decision-making processes at all levels,” she said. Ivanina also emphasized the need for balanced dialogue platforms where women can freely express their needs. “International support is crucial, so that Ukrainian women’s voices do not disappear inside Ukraine,” she said.
The participants also discussed the empowerment of young women and the need to encourage communication between older and younger generations. Anna Harus, CEO of Enlightening Initiative, highlighted the need to engage youth in the humanitarian and WPS agenda. “In order to engage youth in the humanitarian and WPS agenda, it is essential to translate the agenda’s language to the language that youth understand, including via social media,” she said.
The civil society representatives also stressed that long-term WPS projects were a way to build trust and confidence among communities, as well as to ensure the inclusion of diverse women’s voices. Olena Biletska, Head of the Ukrainian Women’s Guard, an organization that trains women to unite and survive during conflict, shared insights from her experience working with communities. She said that trust building was the first step toward cooperation and capacity-building processes. “Empowering women in decision-making areas is critical,” she stressed.
Liliya Kislitsyna, founder and president of SMARTA, a CSO that prepares Ukrainian women to be active in politics and reconstruction, urged the international community to support women activists, especially in the context of the prolonged war in Ukraine. “Organizing of more transnational women dialogues are crucial and urgent,” she said. “Experience sharing and solidarity are our power.”
The women also acknowledged the psychological toll on volunteers and civil society activists, making the provision of psychological and mental health support essential. Oleksandra Basarab, the communication manager at YMCA Lviv, stressed that it was “important to support those who support others,” and highlighted the importance of preventing burnout among young women and community volunteers.
Throughout the conference, participants from around the region reiterated the importance of networking among women peacebuilders across the region, as well as building sustainable partnerships to enhance the influence and resources of local women leaders in humanitarian and peacebuilding processes.
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