The sixty-eighth session of the Commission wrapped up in New York last week

The sixty-eighth session of the Commission under the priority theme: “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective” wrapped up in New York last week. The United Nations' largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment brings together representatives of Member States, United Nations entities and civil society, and non-governmental organizations from across the globe.

Ukraine was represented by a strong delegation led by Vice Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna and supported by UN Women Ukraine, including key government officials, parliamentarians, and women's civil society organizations.

During CSW68, the Ukrainian delegation met with UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous to discuss various critical issues, including the state of gender equality in Ukraine, expanding women's economic opportunities and leadership, reducing the gender pay gap, and promoting gender-responsive budgeting.

During the meeting with the UN Women Executive Board Bureau, the Ukrainian delegation provided an overview of the agenda for gender equality in Ukraine. It highlighted key areas for collaboration with UN Women.

A primary focus of the discussion between Sarah Hendricks, UN’s Director of the Policy, Programme, and Intergovernmental Division, and Ukraine's delegation was the gender mainstreaming into the operations of the financial institutions and increasing resources allocated for gender equality and empowerment within the financial ecosystem. Recognizing the critical role the women's organizations have played in the crisis response, the importance of actively involving them and allocating the financial resources to bolster their initiatives was emphasized.

At the heart of Ukraine's post-war recovery agenda lies a commitment to reinstating equal opportunities for all. This entails fostering a recovery process that is both gender-responsive and inclusive.  The Ukrainian government, in cooperation with civil society organizations and international, works towards crafting a gender-sensitive recovery plan and expediting international involvement in ensuring gender equality and inclusivity in the recovery process. To address the impact of Russia’s war and to mobilize international support and financing for Ukraine and Ukrainians engaged in gender-responsive and inclusive reconstruction and recovery, UN Women Ukraine also facilitated the organization of a side event during the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women titled "Ukraine's post-war recovery: integrating gender perspectives for women's empowerment".

Tetyana Kudina, UN Women Ukraine Programme Coordinator

In Ukraine, UN Women's focus centers on humanitarian response, advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, and promoting gender-responsive governance.

For me, CSW68 was not just a platform for discussion but also a catalyst for action, leading to robust commitments to enable countries to mobilize and invest resources in gender equality. It was inspiring to witness the spirit of a shared commitment to protecting the rights of women and girls and promoting gender equality at CSW68. In the face of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, safeguarding women's rights and recognizing their needs has become more crucial than ever. We are privileged to have genuine allies among women-led CSOs, women rights organizations, and donor and government partners who grasp the urgency of the moment, comprehend the complexities of the situation, and persist in dedicating their time, energy, and resources.