United Nations in Ukraine

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Ukraine:

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Press Release

23 July 2021

UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine handed over ILO legal gap analysis on the ILO Maritime Labour Convention to the Minister of Infrastructure

At the UN’s meeting with the Minister of Infrastructure Oleksander Kubrakov and his office, Osnat Lubrani, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine, outlined a wide scope of issues that the UN and its Agencies, Funds and Programmes can collaborate on with the Ministry for Infrastructure to boost progress on achieving SDGs. These included sustainable transport, smarter and greener infrastructure and better protection of workers in the maritime industry. The latter was given a special focus as Ukraine strives to ratify the MLC – the ILO flagship Convention that ensures comprehensive worldwide protection of the rights of seafarers and creates a level playing field for countries and shipowners. National Coordinator of International Labour Organization in Ukraine, Sergiy Savchuk, was also present at the meeting. The meeting was a crowning moment of a deep review of Ukrainian legislation by the ILO designated legal experts. The review identifies legal gaps vis-à-vis the MLC and offers legal solution to bridge them so that Ukraine can effectively comply with the MLC provisions in law and in practice. The review was prepared following the Ministry’s request to the ILO for technical assistance. It is expected that the MLC ratification package, inclusive of the draft-law that amends the national legislation to conform to this ILO instrument will soon be prepared for adoption.

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Press Release

13 July 2021

Helping women fulfil potential in rural Ukraine can make agriculture sector more efficient

As elsewhere in the world, women in Ukraine represent a large proportion of the agricultural labour force and the majority of food producers, and thus play key roles in managing natural resources and promoting the well-being of their families. To explore and analyse gender issues in agriculture and food security, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has developed the first Country Gender Assessment for Ukraine,. The report – part of FAO’s Country Gender Assessment series, and whose full title is ‘National Gender Profile of Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods (Ukraine)’ – aims to serve policymakers and practitioners engaged in the formulation and implementation of agriculture policies and programmes, researchers and analysts, civil society actors, and other partners. The report acknowledges women’s role in food systems and rural development, yet it also points out their unequal access to land and other assets and resources, which limits their economic opportunities and puts them at risk of being left behind. Based on these findings, the report provides recommendations on how to address gender inequalities for increased agricultural productivity and food security, and sustainable rural development. Greater agricultural productivity, food security and rural livelihoods, says the report, cannot be achieved without recognising the distinct and complementary roles of women and men, and ensuring social and economic equality for both groups. “The report contributes to the existing knowledge base about gender equality in the country, by bringing together gender statistics and experts’ opinions, but also serving as an advocacy tool to provide greater visibility to rural women’s contribution to agricultural productivity and food security,” said Mara Lopes, FAO Ukraine Head of Office. “Women and girls are critical agents in the fight against rural poverty and food insecurity. Supporting them in reaching their full potential will enable agricultural and rural development processes to be more effective.” “The FAO report on Gender, Agriculture and Rural Development is an in-depth and comprehensive document covering gender issues in the context of different areas of women's and men's lives, including participation in decision-making, freedom from violence, the impact of climate change, access to resources such as land, water energy, education, health and more,” added Kateryna Levchenko, Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy. “This makes it a relevant source of information for all a wide range of users”. However, the report finds that rural women in Ukraine are limited in their capacity to contribute to agricultural production and take advantage of new opportunities, being concentrated in informal jobs and overloaded by multiple responsibilities. These include unpaid informal work on family farms, daily housework, and caring for children and other family members. Despite the heavy workload, their effort is often invisible and receives little recognition or economic or social reward. “Since the outbreak of COVID-19, many women across the region find themselves in an even more disadvantaged situation, as evidence points to increased rates of domestic violence and longer hours of care work due to the widespread closure of schools,” said Dono Abdurazakova, FAO Senior Gender and Social Protection Advisor. “Rural women with disabilities, women from ethnic minority groups such as Roma women, women who have been internally displaced, and many more, suffer from multiple vulnerabilities.” One in every six people employed in Ukraine works in agriculture, forestry and fisheries. The report reveals that specific job types within that sector tend to fall into either “female” or “male” occupation categories. Men represent 71 percent of all formal employees in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, whereas women in the same sector tend to work informally. Women make up 56 percent of migrant labour in Ukraine as a whole, and 58 percent of migrant labour in rural areas. Men are more likely to migrate abroad, while women tend to migrate internally. Unsurprisingly, only 20 percent of farming enterprises in Ukraine are headed by women. What is perhaps more surprising is that women generally undertake manual labour, such as cultivation, planting, weeding, and harvesting perishable vegetables, berries and herbs. Men, meanwhile, tend to undertake mechanised work such as tilling, ploughing and planting fodder crops, harvesting grain and corn (with combine harvesters), and transporting products to markets. Men are more likely to engage in large-scale crop production (wheat, corn, sunflowers), while women typically focus on horticulture and herbs. The tendency towards distinct tasks is repeated within the livestock sector, with women active in dairy production and work associated with milking and care of cows, and men usually responsible for transportation and mechanised labour. The report also goes into some detail on food, health and nutrition, broken down by the female and male experience in Ukraine. In terms of life expectancy, Ukrainian women live on average 10 years longer than men, and that gap is even more pronounced in rural communities (76.2 years compared with 65.6 years for men in 2019). This is a pattern reflected across all post-Soviet countries. In Western Europe, by comparison, female life expectancy exceeds that of their male counterparts by just five years. Read online: http://www.fao.org/europe/news/detail-news/en/c/1402339/ LINKS Report: National Gender Profile of Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods (Ukraine) FAO and Ukraine Cutting food waste while improving food security and environment in Ukraine Chicken breeding under shelling Country gender assessment series Gender and Rural Development in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Key Issues FAO Regional gender strategy for Europe and Central Asia, 2019-2022 Journalists & editors:
For video, photos, audio clips contact: (+39) 06 570 53625 or FAO-newsroom@fao.org.

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Press Release

21 July 2021

UN Food Systems Summit 2021 Ukraine held third National Dialogue

The Food Systems Summit Dialogues are convened by Member States through the organization of “national dialogues” aiming at strengthening the dialogue among diverse stakeholders on key challenges and innovative solutions to make our food systems more sustainable. In Ukraine, the national discussions should result in National Report with a clear roadmap and an action plan for sustainable food systems until 2030. The results will be presented by the President of Ukraine at the UN Food Systems Summit which will take place in September 2021. While the first dialogue addressed Ukraine’s Food Systems transformation and development, and the second dialogue aimed at the development of food systems, the third dialogue was held on 19 July and was focused on sustainability and environmental friendly production. The dialogue continue a series of discussions in the framework of the national dialogue on the transformation of food systems in preparation for the UN Summit on Food Systems 2021. The participants of the third National Dialogue discussed the topics of environmental protection in the context of agricultural development, related to the problem of global warming and the consequences that humanity is already actively facing. “The development of environmental friendly production is a determining factor in the sustainable development of agriculture. The European Green Course sets out a roadmap within which we can find ways to implement reforms in Ukraine and change our politics in line with recent environmental challenges. Most of the changes concern the temperature regime, which, unfortunately, has shown a clear upward trend in recent decades,” said Roman Leshchenko, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. The participants discussed that it is very important for Ukraine to be involved in the European Green Course initiative. However, most participants in the dialogue agreed that Ukraine in the context of the European Green Course already has its positive developments and unique specifics, which is why the terms of this policy should not be copied but adapted to Ukrainian realities. “In the European Union, the discussion of the Green Course is now developing on the vector of how agriculture can be efficient and at the same time be environmentally safe, and Ukraine already has positive developments in this," said Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Trade Representative of Ukraine. Taras Vysotsky, First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, added: “The Green Course program must be adapted to Ukrainian realities. The development of measures within the direction of environmental friendly production takes the form of dialogue, and with the understanding that feedback is essential for all participants in the process. State support the implementation of changes, it will focus on motivating agricultural producers, but will also have certain standards for products and production processes”. The participants also discussed ways of financing the Smart Green Deal and Ukrainian environmental reality. The organizers of the event plan to hold more discussions in the format of the National Dialogue and formulate the remaining vectors of the future system of Ukraine’s food systems transformation. Watch the whole event by the link: https://bit.ly/36Nusq7.

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30 November 2021

Fighting stereotypes and a secret chat for women living with HIV in the Kherson region. Conversation with Natalia Tiuniahina.

I came to the Charitable Organization “Positive Women” thanks to the previous coordinator. She has participated extensively in the creation of self-help groups. I assisted her in their organization, and she saw that women know me and trust me, and trust is the main quality necessary for our work. For almost a year, we collaborated with the UN Women Project “Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment through Decentralization Reform of Ukraine” At the same time, I studied at the Academy of Public Activism. The result of UN Women trainings and work with professional mentors was that, together with initiative women from self-help groups, I created a separate Public Organization “Positive Women Kherson”, which will provide targeted assistance to women in our region. Our organization supports women living with HIV, those who have experienced domestic violence or face various forms of discrimination. Our activity is aimed at acceptance of one’s HIV status, overcoming self-stigma, restoring lost skills, resocialization, awareness of our rights as women living with HIV, as well as promoting personality harmonization in all spheres of life. We work with lawyers who provide free legal aid and of course we have self-help groups for women. A self-help group is a space where women can talk about their feelings and experiences, find support in solving problems. But the most important thing is open communication, new acquaintances and exchange of life stories. We are also working hard to break down stereotypes about people living with HIV. We invited people from different fields and organized a film screening and discussion. The film was about a woman with HIV who became pregnant and was fighting for her rights. This film showed the way of a woman who learned about her status during pregnancy and what steps she should take to receive therapy and give birth to a healthy baby. Women often find out about their HIV status only when registering for a pregnancy. For many invited guests, this event became a motivation for testing. We often encounter the prejudice that people with HIV are necessarily drug addicts or marginalized groups. I do not want participate in discussion and argue. I just invite people to take part in our events and debunk these myths. After our events, we are visited by women and men who have been married for a long time, but have never been tested for HIV; they take tests for themselves and their partners. I believe that this should be a perfectly normal practice in our society. Most women join our organization because they experience domestic violence. Violence is often triggered by identifying their HIV status or the status they have acquired as a result of the violence. Of course, women are looking not only for moral support, but also for compassionate doctors, but there are not many of them. This is an internal stigma that prevents a woman from disclosing her status to a gynecologist or any other doctor when prescribing treatment, because some drugs are incompatible with antiretroviral therapy (ART). It is important to work with doctors and health workers. For example, talk about how to empathize with care and respect your patients’ privacy. Therefore, it is extremely important for women living with HIV to have contacts with friendly doctors who will not treat them with contempt or caution. These are, in my opinion, the basic rights of women. I am glad that we now have friendly infectious disease specialists, gynecologists and pediatricians who can be contacted at any time. Yet they are not enough to cover all women. During the COVID-19 pandemic, violence against women increased as they were left alone with their abusers. Women from villages and remote settlements began to contact us more often. Because of the pandemic, many men lose their jobs, and this affects both the psychological and the emotional state. To keep abreast of this issue, we are working with the City Crisis Center for Domestic Violence Victims. One of the latest cases - a doctor from the AIDS center contacted us and said that this is not the first time one of his patients comes to an appointment with bruises. During one of her visits, the woman admitted that she had suffered from violence from her boyfriend and needed help. Upon learning that she had HIV, her boyfriend accused her of treason, although he himself refused to be tested. When the woman tried to get away from him, he beat her and chased after her. When she ran away, he threatened to tell everyone about her illness. We call this the standard set of abusers. Together with the Crisis Center, we managed to consult this woman, provide her with psychological and legal support. She was able to get out of the circle of violence, rent a separate home and, in case of danger, knows the algorithm of her actions. We have many such situations. We add all the girls to our secret chat, where they can get to know each other, share life experiences, get advice or recommendations on various issues. This is a kind of safe online space where women feel supported and trust each other. We are very lucky. Women’s public organizations in the Kherson region are friendly and have no competition with each other. We also have mobile police brigades; they act as a united front in solving the problem and do not leave victims of violence in a difficult situation. My biggest inner need is to help women accept their status, to teach them to live a full life with HIV, to open them in a new better way, to show that they can do everything and even more. Teach them to be active, motivated and successful no matter what. The material was prepared within the framework of UN Women Project “Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment through Decentralization Reform of Ukraine” funded by Global Affairs of Canada.

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01 December 2021

About accessibility, isolation and people who make Chernivtsi region inclusive

Valentyna Dobrydina – representative of the Government Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Chernivtsi Regional State Administration, the head of the public organization “Chernivtsi Regional Organization of People with Disabilities ‘Leader’ My story of social activism began more than 20 years ago, when I was injured and found myself in a wheelchair. I realized that I didn't even know people in wheelchairs and didn't see them on the street or in shops, except for those who were cadging and begging under the church. Even then, while in the hospital, I promised myself that I would defend the rights of people with disabilities, make them visible to society, and fight for their rights. 20 years ago, there were very few organizations for people with disabilities. Most of the activities were entertainment, concerts, or sporting events. Then I met other young people with disabilities from Chernivtsi region, and we decided to create our own public organization. At the beginning it was not easy: there were ideas, but there was almost no support. My first team was my family. There are many stereotypes in our society that women with disabilities can neither give birth nor create a family. To fight against these stereotypes, we organized special events and talked about human rights. Some people even had to be persuaded that they were a full part of society, we had to work with internal barriers, restoring people to their confidence. City accessibility is about the sense of dignity for people with disabilities. At meetings with government officials, I was often told: “Why did you come? We would go to you ourselves, we’d go down the steps, we would come ourselves!” I try to change their point of view, so I emphasize that I am an independent person and I want to drive myself along a convenient ramp to the administrative and any other building. The public organization “Leader”, which I head, is a member of the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine (NALI), which collaborates with the UN Women project “Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment through Decentralization Reform of Ukraine”. As part of our collaboration, we learned to conduct gender accessibility audits and mobilized women with disabilities to advocate for their rights. The community held workshops with representatives of the public and the authorities. Now our organization has begun conducting accessibility audits on its own, we give advice and monitor their implementation. It is quite difficult to repair and make available already built or old buildings. To really change something, you need the determination and will of the management of these institutions. We continue to carry out inspections of buildings, educational institutions, hospitals, and administrative buildings. I am glad that in our region they often agree with us and do the necessary renovations. As a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, the isolation situation for people with disabilities has worsened. If earlier we could see friends and relatives, go to the city, travel, now it has become more difficult. Of course, we have transferred all our activities to online, but the effect of personal communication is completely different. If a person in a wheelchair, who spends most of their time sitting, gets sick with COVID 19, it will put a huge strain on their already weak lungs. Many of my acquaintances are tightening isolation and almost never leave home for the second year in a row. Also, many people with disabilities are afraid to go to the hospital because not all wards are properly equipped. People in wheelchairs often need separate rooms and specially trained staff, including toilets that simply do not exist. Last year, realizing this need, we held a seminar on the topic “How to provide support and assistance to women with disabilities in health care”. Due to the small number of universal multifunctional gynecological chairs and mammography machines, women with disabilities cannot undergo a high-quality examination by a gynecologist. Improper diagnosis leads to diseases such as cervical cancer, breast cancer and other diseases that lead to complications and are life-threatening. In addition, the lack of toilets available for women with musculoskeletal disabilities in health facilities also discourages visits. It is gratifying that recently adapted medical and diagnostic equipment has appeared in medical institutions. Thus, in the Chernivtsi region last year, five reception departments were reconstructed and built in hospitals, which are modern and accessible to all categories of citizens. I should note that when the vaccination process began, various polyclinics and the Health Department of the Chernivtsi Regional State Administration repeatedly contacted me and offered various options for how to gather people with disabilities for vaccination. There were no problems with the availability of vaccinations for people with disabilities in our region; the only problem was that not everyone is ready to be vaccinated. We try to spread as much positive information about vaccination as possible, but prejudice in our society is still very strong. In all of these situations, there is a direct link between the lack of accessibility and the deepening problem of enforced isolation. I am glad that there are many women leaders in the Chernivtsi region who work side by side and inspire me. These are Maria Nikitina, Olena Bebeshko, Lyubov Sviridenko. All of them are heads of public organizations, councilors; some of them have been or have run for city council deputies and are women with disabilities. Of course, session halls are not yet available to us, because they are located on the second floor, but this is another challenge in our work, in the direction of accessibility and inclusiveness. The article was prepared within the framework of UN Women Project “Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment through Decentralization Reform of Ukraine” funded by Global Affairs of Canada.

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25 November 2021

Joint statement in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25 and the accompanying 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, 2021

In observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, and the accompanying 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the EU Delegation to Ukraine, the EU Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform (EUAM Ukraine) in Ukraine, and the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, together with the Embassies of Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Ukraine and the European Investment Bank’s Representation to Ukraine reaffirm our commitment to defending the rights of women and girls in Ukraine to live free from violence. The international 16 Days Campaign is 30 years old this year, and although we wish this Campaign were no longer necessary, the reality is different. Studies show that 67% of women in Ukraine have experienced psychological, physical or sexual violence by their partner or another person since the age of 15. Most often, the perpetrators are intimate partners. These numbers do not reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated all of the contributing factors relating to violence against women and girls, including unemployment and poverty, and reinforced many root causes, such as gender stereotypes and harmful social norms. The adoption of a national Human Rights Strategy and Action Plan in Ukraine this year is an important element in combating gender-based violence. In the Strategy, Ukraine commits to improve the legislation on the prevention of gender-based violence as well as to improve the efficiency of investigations and victims’ assistance systems. We encourage the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention, which would further strengthen the implementation of national legislation on violence against women and domestic violence. Ratifying the Istanbul Convention would propel Ukraine to take further measures to prevent violence against women, protect victims, prosecute perpetrators and, more generally, adopt comprehensive policies to address this human rights violation. We also acknowledge and support the advocacy efforts of Ukrainian women’s organisations advocating for ratification. A considerable share of perpetrators do not see their violent behaviour as a crime. They rather perceive it as “normal”, blame the victim for provoking their violent and abusive behaviour and avoid taking responsibility. Consequently, promoting gender equality and combating gender stereotypes and sexism are crucial elements of ending gender-based violence against women. In addition, gender-based violence has traditionally been underreported. When reported and prosecuted, it has a very low conviction rate. Consequently, promoting gender equality and combating gender stereotypes and sexism are crucial elements of ending gender-based violence against women. We note that in June 2019, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention No. 190, the first international treaty to recognise the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence, was adopted. We encourage Ukraine to ratify this Convention. It has been noted that in Ukraine, blaming the victim and the difficulty in proving harassment in court are the biggest barriers to combating sexual harassment in the workplace. We wish to acknowledge that (sexual) harassment, gender stereotypes and sexism at work, just like gender-based violence against women, are crucial factors holding back women, not just in their careers but in all aspects of life. Therefore, we encourage Ukrainian state actors to strengthen the systems of prevention and response. We are committed to ending violence against women and urge Ukraine to stand united with us in this effort. Now is the time to put an end to gender-based violence and move towards accountability.

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23 November 2021

UN invites Ukrainian businesses to take part in “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” global social campaign

During the campaign society, organizations, government agencies, and all concerned step up their efforts to combat gender-based violence. This year, at the initiative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, in cooperation with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, the Ministry of Social Policy, the National Police of Ukraine and with the support of the United Nations, a national information campaign called “Rich u Tim 2.0” (The thing is… 2.0) is being held. The campaign is based on 16 stories taken from police reports. These stories are voiced in the video by 16 famous Ukrainians. The videos end with the plea: “Do not tolerate violence – call for help on the number 102.” The campaign developed information materials – videos, posters, stickers and illustrations for social networks. We invite you to support the campaign and post these materials at your locations (storefronts, offices, cinemas, cash registers, etc.), and also join in the global online campaign on social networks (hashtag #річутім, #thethingis). Sixteen famous people, known to the whole of Ukraine, have taken part in the “The thing is” project. Among them are actors, presenters, musicians, scientists, and athletes. They told 16 stories taken from real police records. The focus of each story is a thing that has become an instrument of violence or is associated with it, because violence can be physical, psychological, economic, sexual… You can view poster layouts here. Selected stories: 1. Rainbow spring Sexual abuse of a girl. The abuser is her uncle. 2. Knitting needles Physical violence against a mother. The abuser is her son. 3. Invoices Economic and physical violence against a wife. The abuser is her husband. 4. Flat shoes A mixture of violence against a LGBTQ person. The abuser is their father-in-law. 5. Bat Physical violence against a young person. The abuser is their brother. 6. Tights Psychological and physical violence against an underage daughter. The abuser is her father. 7. Dog leash Physical violence against an ex-wife. The abuser is her ex-husband. 8. Stool Combination of violence against a wife and children. A COVID-19 certificate. The abuser is her husband. 9. Lighter Physical and economic abuse of a grandfather. The abuser is his grandson. 10. Toiletry bag A mixture of violence against a young wife. The abuser is her husband. 11. Violin A mixture of violence against a daughter. The abuser is her father. 12. Scooter Physical violence against a little boy. The abuser is his grandmother. 13. Christmas garland (lights) Sexual violence against a wife. The abuser is her husband. 14. Pillow Violence against a man. The abuser is his wife. 15. Locker Violence against a person with disabilities. The abuser is their sister. 16. Plate Violence against a wife. The abuser is her husband. Businesses can join in the global campaign offline and / or online. Offline: place posters and / or stickers at your locations (shop windows, offices, cinemas, offices, ticket offices, etc.). Online: make (a) post (s) on your social networks (hashtag #річутім, #thethingis) with a link to the official website of the campaign. If you want to join in the campaign, please fill out the following form by 23 November 2021: https://forms.gle/Ph6YbPQMAeHjkCm69 Media contact: Yulia Zaika, Business Involvement Coordinator, UNDP in Ukraine, +38 050 391 87 03 or bpw.ukraine@gmail.com

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19 November 2021

"A modern woman is not only a housewife and a mother. The modern woman has her own voice”. Conversation with Oksana Repka

Every woman is a personality, and she has the right to realize her potential. By my example, I want to prove that we, women, have this right and can do a lot, despite family responsibilities. If you have purpose, potential and perseverance, you will succeed. I believe that these character traits helped me to involve the women of our Kostiantynivka community in the implementation of valuable projects. My husband and I grow passion fruit and figs, this is our family business, but every morning at 7:30 I drive 30 km to get to the village council and fulfill my job responsibilities. I like my job because I understand that a modern woman is not only a housewife and a mother. The modern woman has a voice, knows the needs of other women, and can take part in making important decisions in her community. The decentralization reform in Ukraine has been going on for several years. As a result, our community includes 9 settlements, different in population, social facilities and infrastructure development. All this time we have been cooperating with the UN-Women project “UN Women Project “Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment through Decentralization Reform of Ukraine”. The knowledge we gained during the trainings from UN Women helped us to look at the processes in a new way. During this period, we changed the approach to budgeting, developed a gender profile. Now, before planning irregular expenses, we do a mini-study. We now take the gender component into account in our programs. For this, 4 working groups were created in areas that included representatives of public organizations, people with disabilities, deputies and other categories of residents. This allowed taking into account as many opinions as possible about improving the service of various target groups. As a result, we will be able to meet their needs as much as possible and cover all areas. The small number of students in the classroom and the absence of teachers in some subjects forced us to optimize educational institutions. So, in order to provide quality educational services, we closed two primary schools and merged three into one pivotal institution with two branches. These managerial decisions of the administration and the deputies were not easy, because in each settlement during the discussion it was necessary to convince the residents of the effectiveness of such a step. During the pandemic, not all children had the opportunity to study online. Therefore, we studied the needs of large and low-income families, and found that not everyone has access to education due to the lack of the Internet and gadgets. This problem was solved with the help of the UNDP Project - tablets were purchased for children. And now about 90% of rural schoolchildren are provided with everything they need for online learning. In the process of participating in the UN Women Project “Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment through Decentralization Reform of Ukraine”, we realized that we need to build a dialogue and talk about gender equality, starting from school and kindergarten. It is necessary to provide information to children and their parents so that they understand the uniqueness of each person, regardless of gender and social status. To implement the gender component, we are introducing practical cases. And my task is to find programs and partners who will help to put them into practice. Thus, the public organization “Poruch” helped to implement methods of interactive work with various community members, contributing to the creation of such a form of cooperation as a forum-theater. The forum-theater methodology is aimed at solving the social problems of citizens of different vulnerable groups: relations between family members, representatives of different cultures, religions, the problems of HIV-infected people, people with disabilities, etc. During the performance, where each spectator is a participant, there is a joint search solving the problem. This has proven to be an extremely effective method and an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. Another implemented case, socially significant for the community, is the creation of the municipal institution “Center for Social Services”. To study the needs of residents for social services and the ability of the community to provide them, we conducted a survey of providers and recipients of services. Of the nine settlements, only five were covered by social services. Transport was necessary so that people could receive equal social services. And we managed to buy it on a partnership basis through participation in the UNDP project. Currently, the community implements social services of various directions in all villages of the community. I want to emphasize that all these and other not mentioned initiatives were not easy to implement, because sometimes you had to neglect your personal time to achieve the goal. However, it was a joy for me, because the realization of each proposed and implemented project is a joint work of a team of specialists of our village council, led by the head of the community, Oleksiy Kilderov. We (and I personally) are not going to stop there The material was prepared within the framework UN Women Project “Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment through Decentralization Reform of Ukraine” funded by Global Affairs of Canada.

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Press Release

01 December 2021

COVID-19 pushed Ukrainians to accept risky job offers

The survey results suggest that 46,000 Ukrainians suffered from human trafficking during 2019-2021: about two thirds of them were trafficked abroad, and one third were exploited in Ukraine. These latest assessments make IOM estimate that the total number of Ukrainians who have suffered from human trafficking since 1991 is over 300,000 persons. According to the IOM survey, almost 1.2 million Ukrainians worked abroad in 2021, or 11 per cent more than in 2019. Of those, 42 per cent were employed unofficially, compared to 30 per cent two years ago. Eighteen per cent of the surveyed respondents said they were ready to accept an informal job offer abroad, and way more — 27 per cent, would do so in Ukraine, which indicates that Ukrainians tend to underestimate potential threats in their own country. “The COVID-19 pandemic has made the population even more vulnerable to human trafficking, as over 2 million persons lost their jobs or spent large amounts of funds on medical treatment,” said Teuta Grazhdani, Policy, Liaison and Project Development Coordinator at IOM Ukraine. “During the last two years, we observe the significant increase of internal trafficking. In 2021, 19 per cent of survivors, identified by IOM Ukraine, were trafficked internally, which is over three times more than in 2020.” Since 2000, IOM, together with a network of its partner NGOs across the country, has provided individually tailored rehabilitation assistance to over 19,000 trafficking survivors. This included legal consultations and representation in court, medical care, psychological counselling, shelter, vocational training, a grant programme supporting trafficking survivors who aspire to set up their own business, and other forms of assistance. *The nationwide survey was conducted by Info Sapiens at the request of IOM in September–October 2021. Answers were collected from 5,228 respondents, aged above 14 years old, in every oblast of Ukraine and the city of Kyiv, excluding residents of the non-government-controlled areas (NGCA) of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

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Press Release

14 October 2021

East Expo 2021: Businesses from eastern Ukraine show wares on national stage

The East Expo 2021 – the country’s biggest business exhibition for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts, this year held on 13-14 October, kicked off today in Kyiv. Every year, East Expo gives entrepreneurs from eastern Ukraine an opportunity to present their companies at a top-flight business exhibition, finding new customers and introducing the public to the products they make. East Expo 2021 is organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) within the UN Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme, with the financial support of the European Union and the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine. The event is conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Kherson oblast state administrations, Donetsk Oblast Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine. Speaking at the opening of the seventh annual East Expo business exhibition, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine Dafina Gercheva congratulated the participants and their partners and stressed that the exhibition was an important tool for supporting local economic development. "UNDP has been working in eastern Ukraine since 2015 to support communities, businesses and local governments in the east,” Gercheva said. “Since 2015, almost 1,500 companies have received grant support, about 4,000 jobs have been created, and about 10,000 entrepreneurs have gained new business skills. Today, MSMEs make up most of the enterprises in Ukraine and around the world, and are essential factors in job creation and in the global economy.” Gercheva also stressed that despite the economic difficulties caused by the ongoing armed conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, enterprises in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts have proved to be highly resilient, determined, and innovative. They continue to operate, grow, and expand in response to market demand. In his welcoming remarks, Rémi Duflot, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, noted that SME development was one of the key directions of EU-Ukraine cooperation. “It’s a privilege for the European Union to be a key partner and supporter of the annual East Expo event,” he said. “East Expo has already established itself as a dynamic platform for developing the links between businesses from eastern and southern Ukraine with the rest of the country, with the EU, and with other countries. A stronger SME sector diversifies the Ukrainian economy and strengthens its resilience.” Duflot also referred to the social and economic fallout of the pandemic – a crisis that has hit economies around the world. He noted that the ongoing EU4Business programmes assist SMEs across Ukraine to gain access to finance, markets and skills. He also highlighted the assistance mobilized through the 'Team Europe' approach, which is aimed at mitigating the economic impact of the pandemic and helping companies emerge from the crisis. In addition to the traditional presentations directly at the event location, the exhibition is being shown online: You can view various products and get acquainted with the businesses on the East Expo and Diia.Business websites, where the profiles of about 150 companies are presented. Each profile contains brief information about the company, along with photo and video presentations. David Schlaefer, Senior Assistance Coordinator, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine said it was a great pleasure to open the East Expo 2021. He welcomed the entrepreneurs from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts to the event, saying it was aimed at strengthening business ties, exploring new partner opportunities, promoting products, and facilitating access to new markets. “The economic recovery of eastern Ukraine is among the United States’ top assistance priorities,” Schlaefer said. “We’re honoured to be contributing to the United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme, which strives to revitalize eastern Ukraine’s economy by strengthening local business capacity and job skills, supporting home-grown entrepreneurs, and promoting access to new markets and trade links,” he added. Valeria Ionan, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation, emphasised that one of the ministry’s objectives of is to turn Ukraine into a country of entrepreneurs. “To make this happen, we’re implementing a large-scale business development project called Diia.Business. It’s essential for us that micro and small enterprises feel they have the support and aid of the state. That’s why East Expo is an excellent platform for showcasing regional entrepreneurs at the national level, and for networking and building new partnerships.” About East Expo From 2017 to 2019, East Expo has been held in Kramatorsk, Sievierodonetsk, Kyiv (twice) and Lviv. In 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions, the event was held online in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. In total, during the exhibition's existence, it has been visited by more than 10,000 people, and 260 local manufacturers have presented their products. At the most recent events, 70 percent of the participants have established business contacts with new partners. Background The United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (UN RPP) is being implemented by four United Nations agencies: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Twelve international partners support the Programme: the European Union (EU), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, and the governments of Canada, Denmark, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland. Media enquiries Yuliia Samus, UNDP Communications Team Leader, yuliia.samus@undp.org Photo: Andriy Krepkikh / UNDP Ukraine More photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/undpukraine/albums/72157720017811287 Live feed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPsQykVXa98

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Press Release

11 October 2021

Ukrainian celebrities took part in a new HeForShe movie about gender stereotypes

“UN Women Ukraine believes that young people have the power to positively transform our societies, economies, and political systems and put human rights and gender equality at the center of all reforms. We are excited to have joined forces with Ukrainian universities and bring this conversation directly to students”, remarks Erika Kvapilova, UN Women Country Representative in Ukraine. The heroes of the film said that they also faced stereotypes, sought inner confidence and freedom from the opinions of others. They are convinced that gender discrimination must be counteracted, that sexism on the part of classmates, university administrations or employers must not be silenced. "When you are offered something that does not agree with your moral principles, and even if the boss or even the president does it, you should speak about your point of view clearly and not be afraid," advises singer Alina Pash. The film was created as part of the HeForShe University Tour — a global project of the HeForShe movement, which has already taken place in the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Thailand and other countries. In September this year, the Ukrainian HeForShe University Tour went to 5 universities all over Ukraine: Chernivtsi, Lviv, Kyiv, Dnipro and Mariupol. The participants of the shows joined a large-scale discussion about stereotypes, sexism, discrimination and violence. From October 1, everyone can arrange a screening and discussion of the film, thus joining the HeForShe University Tour. The HeForShe movement in Ukraine calls on student councils of universities and colleges, active high school students, teachers, the youth club’s leaders to support a global dialogue on gender equality. More about the HeForShe University Tour project: https://heforsheukraine.info/universitytour/ The film is available at: https://youtu.be/nUwXKrnm1L0 https://www.facebook.com/unwomenukraine/videos/180842500821516 Teaser: https://youtu.be/PBoad30IzVI Poster: https://bit.ly/3oq7MWS Footage from the film and backstage photos: https://bit.ly/2WEpUAT _________________________________________________________________________ Created by UN Women, the HeForShe solidarity movement for gender equality provides a systematic approach and targeted platform on which men and boys can engage and become change agents towards the achievement of gender equality. Since its launch in 2014, hundreds of thousands of men from around the world including Heads of State, CEOs, and global luminaries, from all walks of life have committed to gender equality. The HeForShe movement in Ukraine is implemented with the financial support of Sweden.

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Press Release

23 September 2021

Civilian casualties on the rise as the security situation deteriorates in eastern Ukraine, says UN Human Rights

After considerable improvement of the security situation in eastern Ukraine following the strengthened ceasefire in July 2020, the number of civilian casualties and damage to civilian objects has risen and is now at levels seen prior to the strengthened ceasefire. A new report released by UN Human Rights today outlines the human rights situation in conflict and non-conflict areas throughout the country. The report is based on the work of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) and covers the period of 1 February to 31 July 2021. The report says that during the reporting period, UN Human Rights recorded 62 civilian casualties – 15 killed and 47 injured. This is a 51 per cent increase compared with the preceding six months. This trend is continuing, with an additional 16 civilian casualties (two killed and 14 injured) caused by active hostilities recorded between 31 July and 20 September. The numbers in August and September are the highest monthly figures since June 2020. “Our civilian casualty records clearly demonstrate that the 27 July 2020 ceasefire resulted in a decrease in civilian casualties caused by active hostilities. It shows that is it possible to put in place an effective ceasefire that protects civilian lives. If it has been done once, it can be done again. The shelling and shooting must stop and we call on all the parties to the conflict to fully implement measures to strengthen the ceasefire,” said Matilda Bogner, Head of HRMMU. The report says that COVID-19-related movement restrictions in eastern Ukraine, mostly imposed by armed groups, resulted in a 95 per cent reduction of the number of crossings of the contact line. As these restrictions forced many people to cross from territory controlled by armed groups to Government-controlled territory via the Russian Federation, the adoption and enactment of a law, releasing civilians who have crossed this border on humanitarian grounds from administrative penalties, is a positive step by the Government of Ukraine. “Due to these restrictions imposed by the self-proclaimed ‘republics’, people are not able to see their families.” Ms Bogner said. “Civilians living in settlements located on both sides of the contact line also expressed frustration about lack of access to water and sanitation, healthcare, public transport and passable roads. Priority should be given to ensuring such services for the conflict-affected population,” she added. The report expresses concern over the adoption of a regulation that allows for the expropriation of immovable private property considered abandoned or left unclaimed in territory controlled by self-proclaimed ‘Donetsk people’s republic’. It not only risks violating housing rights of internally displaced persons, but may also endanger future restitution and creates additional constraints for the return and reintegration of internally displaced persons. The report also states that allegations that workers in territory controlled by self-proclaimed ‘Luhansk people’s republic’ have been threatened with a salary reduction or dismissal if they did not obtain Russian citizenship may amount to a form of discrimination and thus be contrary to international human rights law. Regarding the draft law on the transitional period, recently registered in Parliament, the report notes that while it has some welcome provisions, the draft law is built around a definition of transitional justice that is not in line with international standards and does not ensure a victim-centered approach. The report documented 12 cases of individuals believed to be linked or affiliated with self-proclaimed ‘republics’ detained by law enforcement officials in violation of international standards and national law, including in violation of the in flagrante procedure. UN Human Rights is also following the investigation into allegations of torture and ill-treatment in Oleksiivska penal colony No. 25 in Kharkiv, and is concerned by reports received that prisoners who complained of torture faced retaliation. In territory controlled by armed groups, 13 cases of conflict-related arbitrary detention were documented during the reporting period, eleven of which are ongoing. “On 5 August, we were granted confidential access to two women and two men in the Luhansk SIZO. We welcome this development and hope that we will have continued access to detainees there. We also call for such access in territory controlled by the self-proclaimed ‘Donetsk people’s republic,” Ms Bogner added. The report welcomes the adoption on 20 May 2021 of a law harmonising domestic criminal law with international criminal law, which significantly expands the definitions of international crimes in line with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. “We are concerned that the law has not been signed by the President. It would be a significant missed opportunity not to take this final step to ensure accountability of perpetrators for international crimes,” Ms Bogner said. The report also notes that the decisions of the National Council for Security and Defence that resulted in the closure of television channels and restriction of access to online media are not in line with international standards on the right to freedom of expression. The report highlights 22 cases of threats and attacks against journalists and other media workers, human rights defenders, LGBTI people or their supporters, and members of national minorities. Twenty-one hate speech incidents were also documented during the reporting period, six of which were directed against Roma and another six against LGBTI persons. The report also noted that in territory controlled by self-proclaimed ‘republics’, an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship prevailed. Criticism of those in charge and participation in public affairs continued to be discouraged, with UN Human Rights documenting three cases of arbitrary detention of individuals who expressed opinions on social networks. “Persistent grave violations of human rights in territory controlled by self-proclaimed ‘republics’, must be immediately halted. Repression against those who express critical or independent views must stop, and fundamental freedoms must be respected,” said Ms Bogner. With regard to economic and social rights, the report notes the lack of social housing and social services to address the needs of persons with disabilities and homeless people, as well as the difficulties for homeless persons without identification papers to access healthcare services. Persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities in long-term care facilities also lacked access to adequate medical care, contact with the outside world, and employment opportunities. Concerning the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, occupied by the Russian Federation,[2] the report highlights that among other issues, the blanket requirement of pre-authorization for public assemblies continued to restrict the freedom of peaceful assembly. The report adds that Crimean Tatars were also affected by this, when law enforcement agencies issued warnings in advance of commemorative dates celebrated by Crimean Tatars. “These and other continuing violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law by the Russian Federation as the occupying Power must be addressed,” said Ms Bogner. “Crimean Tartars also continued to be targeted beyond the reporting period, with five Crimean Tatar men arrested in Crimea on 3 and 4 September, following searches conducted in their homes by Russian law-enforcement bodies,” she added. The report also provides a set of specific recommendations to the Ukrainian authorities, to self-proclaimed ‘Donetsk people’s republic’ and self-proclaimed ‘Luhansk people’s republic’, and to the Russian Federation, as the occupying Power in Crimea. END The full text of the report is available in English, Ukrainian and Russian. For more information or media enquiries, please contact Tanya Tesliuchenko at +380503868069 or e-mail ttesliuchenko@ohchr.org

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