Women-deputies, who represent the Rivni Mozhlyvosti interfaction association, informed their colleagues-politicians from other countries about the progress of gender equality in Ukraine. They noted that Dignity Revolution facilitated the enhancement of the role of women among representatives of Ukrainian authorities: today the number of women at the Verkhovna Rada increases and their influence on decision-making there grows as well. At the same time, they believe that Ukraine is protracting introduction of real gender equality, implementation of respective UN Resolution 1325 and Beijing platform that envisions expansion of women’s presence in power to 30%. Ukraine has not yet approved the national action plan entitled “Women. Peace. Security.” aimed at determination of real program for implementation of the UN Resolution 1325 on gender equality before 2019. The women-politicians consider that the Government has to speed up the adoption of this program.
At the same time, the people's deputies noted that the key problem and challenge for Ukraine is the still the war in Donbas inspired and financed by the Russian Federation. Women and children suffer the war the most as they make up the largest percent of those killed and wounded among civilians.
Envoy of the President of Ukraine for Peaceful Settlement of Situation in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts and Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee for European Integration Iryna Heraschenko along with colleagues-deputies Ionova and Hrynevych noted that the issues of security on the European continent should become crucial for all international organizations, inter alia in the context of protection of women’s rights. Heraschenko raised the question of OSCE’s role in monitoring mission in Donbas, and also stressed that Ukraine expects this organization, currently headed by Serbia, to provide comprehensive and unbiased implementation of its authorities. Besides, she noted that Ukraine is extremely interested in observance of the Minsk agreements by all the parties.
The deputies told about active peacekeeping role of women and women organizations in Ukraine, noted that women-politicians, volunteers, doctors, journalists, ordinary Ukrainian women are the most active in the settlement of humanitarian problems of internally-displaced persons. They are also active in helping the army, assisting in restoration of peaceful life in Donbas. The politicians called for the expansion of the peacekeeping role of women and expressed confidence that it would help the peace process. Iryna Heraschenko noted that President Petro Poroshenko shares this position and calls for enhancement of the role of women in power and civil sector.
Besides, people's deputies, in particular, Mariya Ionova, stressed that Ukraine is expecting solidarity of all international organizations in issues of peacekeeping and security, condemnation of the aggression.
Liliya Hrynevych said about legislative initiatives of women-deputies as to support to women’s leadership.
Apart from participation in the conference, the women-deputies met with civil women-activists engaged in peacekeeping, and met with students of Ukrainian language faculty at the Belgrade University.