Ukraine: Women leading the way to gender-responsive recovery
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On the eve of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), UN Women Italy is hosting a networking event in Rome of the Alliance for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery for Ukraine, to highlight the importance of women in the Ukraine’s recovery in line with the United Nations Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda.
Rome, 8 July 2025 – More than three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war continues to impact women and girls disproportionally. There is ample evidence that the effects of war are deeply gendered. Women and girls have been shaken by displacement, face devastating income loss, and are increasingly exposed to the risk of violence. More than 4,000 women and 300 girls have been killed while nearly 10,000 women and 750 girls were injured since 2022 , although the true toll is likely much higher. 1.8 million women and girls remain displaced within Ukraine, that’s 57 per cent of Ukraine's 3.75 million internally displaced persons, while nearly 6.7 million people need humanitarian assistance.
In a world increasingly engulfed by armed conflict, the role of women in decision making and peacebuilding has never been more vital. Numerous studies have shown that women's participation significantly contributes to the achievement of sustainable peace. Yet, women are still rarely present around negotiation tables. They often bear the heaviest burdens of war, while remaining marginalized in negotiations and reconstruction processes. For this reason, UN Women is committed to support women leaders in Ukraine. In this spirit, UN Women Italy is convening a networking meeting as part of the Alliance for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery for Ukraine. The event will take place in Rome on 9 July, on the eve of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), which this year will be hosted by Italy from 10–11 July. Organized in collaboration with the governments of Ukraine and Germany, and sponsored by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, the event will highlight the central role of women in recovery process and building a more equal and just society, and advocate for their meaningful inclusion in the decision-making processes at all levels. The networking meeting aims to reflect on the first year of the Alliance for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery of Ukraine, strengthen collaboration, expand membership, and advance joint strategies for a gender-responsive and inclusive recovery of Ukraine.
Among the key participants are the Ukraine’s Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy Kateryna Levchenko, Director General for Asia, Latin America, Middle East, Eastern/South Eastern Europe at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Christine Toetzke, UN Women Deputy Executive Director Kirsi Madi, and UN Women Ukraine Representative Sabine Freizer Gunes. They will be joined by members of the Alliance representing governments, international organizations, private sector and civil society.
ALLIANCE FOR GENDER-RESPONSIVE AND INCLUSIVE RECOVERY FOR UKRAINE
Launched by the governments of Ukraine and Germany together with UN Women during the 2024 URC in Berlin, the Alliance brings together more than 80 stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, NGOs, and private companies. Its mission is to ensure that Ukraine’s recovery process is grounded in gender equality, women’s empowerment and inclusion, in line with the UN Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda. The upcoming Rome meeting also aims to expand this growing network, encouraging the participation of additional partners and governments - including Italy, and improve funding and financing for gender equality in Ukraine’s recovery.
"The participation of women in peace mediation and the development of post-war reconstruction strategies is a decisive political lever for building more equal and inclusive societies. Women’s presence strengthens institutional legitimacy and enhances the effectiveness of international recovery funding through governance that is more responsive to the real needs of communities. When women's expertise is paired with the transformative potential of digital technologies, new avenues for dialogue, innovation, and inclusive recovery emerge, capable of countering violence and fostering long-term stability. I strongly hope that the Alliance for Gender Responsive and Inclusive Recovery for Ukraine will soon be joined by Italy and all URC participating States," said Darya Majidi, President of UN Women Italy.
WOMEN AND CONFLICT: ON THE FRONTLINE OF HUMANITARIN RESPONSE AND RECOVERY
Twenty-five years after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, much progress remains to be made. Nevertheless, the resolution marked a turning point in redefining the role of women in conflict settings — no longer just as victims, but as key actors in crisis prevention, peace processes, and post-conflict reconstruction.
Though often excluded from official negotiation tables, women play an essential role in community support - driving the economy, providing humanitarian assistance, defending human rights, and giving voice to grassroots demands - thus laying the foundation for post-war recovery and a just peace. According to a study by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, women were actively involved in over 70% of informal peace processes.
Yet these vital contributions are often undocumented and under-recognized, while women’s rights organizations lack sustainable support. Although international aid is critical for Ukraine, out of the USD 18.8 billion in allocable aid in 2023, only USD 3.5 billion included gender equality objectives.
"The Ukrainian government has demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s economic empowerment even amidst the full-scale war. Women in Ukraine have shown incredible resilience and leadership, yet they need our consistent support. Joining the Alliance for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery means standing together with Ukrainian women to ensure that Ukraine’s recovery is not only swift but just — where women’s voices shape decisions, resources address their needs, and equality is at the heart of every investment. Together, we can build a future where recovery empowers all, leaving no one behind," said Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine.
Ukrainian women and girls are among the first responders to the full-scale war. They have been facing the consequences of the military aggression since February 2022. Their resilience andleadership are exemplified in the powerful stories of resistance collected by UN Women across the country.
UN Women Ukraine contacts for media:
Anna Serdyuk, Advocacy and Communications Analyst
+38 050 343 93 04