“UN Women's new strategy on youth and gender equality aims to empower young people to partner in achieving gender equality. UN Women is collaborating with the NGO Girls and our government partners on this important initiative to mobilize young women and men, including representatives of youth organizations, and help them become agents of change. We hope it inspires you and your organizations to become more visible and active advocates for gender equality,” noted Julia Broussard, Deputy Representative of UN Women in Ukraine.

Iryna Periv (25) from Lviv is an experienced lawyer and a dedicated representative of Ukraine’s vibrant youth who has been working with the Women's Perspective Centre for about two years on the “Women’s New Horizons” project, supported by UN Women and Sweden. On International Youth Day, learn how Iryna is driving positive change through her activism and advocacy.

My name is Yana Panfilova, I am 26 years old, and I am from Ukraine. I was born with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). As a child, I feared that I would die, but my mother helped me understand that HIV is not a death sentence - you can still live a fulfilling life by taking good care of yourself. I dreamed of a world where teenagers living with HIV could create a movement and work together without hiding.

The UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia and the UNFPA Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, together with the European Union (EU), started the Phase II of the regional programme “EU 4 Gender Equality: Together against gender stereotypes and gender-based violence”. The programme aims to reduce gender discriminatory attitudes and practices between women and men in institutional and community spheres, including unpaid domestic and care work in six Eastern Partnership countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine.

Since the launch of the Russian Federation full-scale invasion on 24 February, 2022, over 2,000 women have been confirmed dead in attacks that have wrecked homes and civilian structures across Ukraine. Total numbers are likely to be much higher: according to the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, women account for nearly 40 per cent of the over 21,000 civilian casualties recorded in 2022. And of the estimated 7.9 million internally displaced peoples in Ukraine, women now constitute at least 90 per cent.

Oleksandra Matviychuk is a human rights activist from Ukraine. Following the “Maidan” demonstrations in November 2013, which led to the ousting of the Government and left many casualties among activists, she created the Euromaidan SOS Facebook page. As head of the Centre for Civil Liberties, she also provided legal assistance to protesters victimized during the crackdown. Together with her team, Matviychuk has documented over 18,000 reported war crimes against the Ukrainian people since 2014. The Centre for Civil Liberties won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022.

19-year-old researcher Marharyta Meleshkova from Ukraine invented a tool to clean soil polluted by oil. She encourages more girls to work in science and overcome gender stereotypes.

The HeForShe movement in Ukraine is launching a dialogue with students on gender equality, with a focus on stereotypes and discrimination. UN Women's HeForShe solidarity movement for gender equality is going on a University Tour, which will feature five universities in Ukraine. The HeForShe University Tour has already taken place in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Thailand.

Ivanna Levchenko is a second-year student at the Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman. She is also a member of AIESEC organization which aims to bridge the gap between countries and people. Today, more than half the world’s population is under 30 years of age. Students and youth are the new generation of leaders and changemakers, and it is critically important to understand their priorities as we shape the gender equality movement to change the world.

Violetta Rec is the Chairperson of the Student Cadet Council at Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs in Ukraine. Today, more than half the world’s population is under 30 years of age. Students and youth are the new generation of leaders and changemakers, and it is critically important to understand their priorities as we shape the gender equality movement to change the world.

Karyna Starodubtseva is a Bachelor of Law student at the Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University, Severodonetsk. Today, more than half the world’s population is under 30 years of age. Students and youth are the new generation of leaders and changemakers, and it is critically important to understand their priorities as we shape the gender equality movement to change the world.

Daria Sholomitska is a 2nd-year student of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Today, more than half the world’s population is under 30 years of age. Students and youth are the new generation of leaders and changemakers, and it is critically important to understand their priorities as we shape the gender equality movement to change the world.