WUNRN
OSCE – Organization for Security & Co-Operation in Europe
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UKRAINE – WOMEN NEED A ROLE IN UKRAINE CONFLICT
RESOLUTION & PEACE-BUILDING EFFORTS, SAYS OSCE SENIOR GENDER ADVISER
KYIV, 5 February 2015 – Enhancing the
participation of women in conflict resolution and peace-building efforts is key
to achieving security and stability in Ukraine, said the OSCE’s Senior Adviser
on Gender Issues, Ambassador Miroslava Beham, as she concluded a four-day visit
to Ukraine in which she met representatives of government, international
organizations and civil society.
"It is clear that the changing
circumstances are bringing a new urgency to the cause of gender equality as it
is imperative to include all segments of society in conflict resolution,
peace-building and reconciliation efforts,” said Beham. “For instance,
according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) an overwhelming
majority of internally displaced persons are women and are in urgent need of
assistance that is properly targeted to their requirements.”
She added that developing focused support to
demobilized people returning from the conflict zone is equally urgent for
addressing social tension, including the issue of domestic violence.
Beham noted it is encouraging to see that
important processes have been launched in the area of gender equality, since her
last visit to Ukraine last September.
“Steps have been taken to create a National
Action Plan for implementing UN Security Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and
Security as well as the start of a process to ratify the Istanbul Convention on
Preventing and Combating violence against women,” said Beham. “These are all
important steps to create a future of peace and prosperity for all Ukrainian
citizens.”
The Senior Gender Adviser offered the OSCE’s
support to these processes, underscoring that they are key building blocks to
attaining comprehensive, inclusive security in the OSCE region.
During her visit, Beham met representatives
from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the
Ombudsperson's Office and women parliamentarians. She also met with
representatives from international organizations including the EU Advisory
Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine), UNICEF,
UNHCR, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as well
as civil society and a network of female mediators.
Ambassador Beham additionally had meetings with the senior
management of the Special Monitoring Mission to the Ukraine to discuss how to
enhance the capacity of monitors in including gender-related issues into their
reporting.