Side Events on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Ukraine

During the 53rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, on 23 June 2023, the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations co-sponsored side events on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in Ukraine and the National Action Plan 1325 on implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, updated at the end of 2022 to address the challenges caused by the full-scale invasion of the RF.

Dr Kateryna Bondar, WFUWO Main Representative to the UN in Geneva, spoke about the role of women’s civil society organizations, WFUWO and its member organizations in different countries in implementation of the 1325 Agenda, as well as concrete actions and programs to promote women, peace and security agenda, advance the role of women in army, law enforcement, decision-making, peace processes and post-war recovery, and support to victims of CRSV, widows, wives of prisoners of war and other affected groups of women. The event was moderated by Kateryna Levchenko, Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy, and co-organized by Permanent mission of Ukraine in Geneva, state missions and NGOs.

The panel on CRSV discussed the scope and scale of CRSV committed by the Russian army in Ukraine, the implementation of the Framework Agreement on cooperation in the field of preventing and combating CRSV with the UN system and international opportunities to advance and ensure access to holistic care and reparation for survivors of CRSV including urgent interim reparation.