Remember Ukraine’s Women, Girls, Involve Them in Design, Implementation of Peacemaking, Recovery, Deputy Secretary-General Urges Summit

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the second Kyiv Summit of the First Ladies and Gentlemen:  Ukraine and the World — the Future We (Re)build Together, online, today:

It is a great pleasure to speak to you today.  I want to thank the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, for the invitation and commend her for this initiative.

First ladies and gentlemen can and do help to promote peace, human rights and sustainable development, by using your platforms and soft power to advance dialogue and solidarity and advocate for solutions.

This gathering is an important opportunity to discuss how we can all use our unique situation and voice to respond to the immediate needs in Ukraine and contribute to building a peaceful future for Ukraine and the world.

Russia’s war in Ukraine, in violation of the United Nations Charter, has caused immense loss of life, suffering, displacement and material damage.  In your efforts to support Ukrainians, please allow me to make a special request for you to remember the fate of Ukraine’s women and girls, who are disproportionately impacted by the war.

Women and girls face significantly increased risks to their safety.  Access to health services, including sexual and reproductive health, is deteriorating.  When forced to flee, women face the risk of trafficking and sexual exploitation.

It is crucial that the international community steps up to support Ukrainian women and girls and provides them with the protection they need.  Women make up the majority of health-care workers in Ukraine and play a central role as front-line responders.  They are increasingly becoming heads of households and leaders in their communities.

It is essential that women are fully and meaningfully involved in the design and implementation of humanitarian assistance, peacemaking and recovery efforts.  This is not only about women’s rights; it is about effectiveness.  Women’s participation increases the sustainability of peace agreements and improves the design of humanitarian and development programmes.

The United Nations will continue to provide immediate and life-saving humanitarian aid, including to displaced Ukrainians.  We will support all efforts to rebuild a peaceful and prosperous Ukraine.

We support all efforts to ensure accountability for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law and are committed to supporting a diplomatic and lasting solution to end the hostilities.  We are also working to mitigate the global consequences of the war, which require coordinated action and joint efforts by the international community.

I wish you fruitful discussions and I look forward to hearing of the outcomes of this summit.  Thank you.