Categories of news

Ukrainian Delegation at the International Civil Society Forum: Finding Common Ground in Times of War

October 19, 2024 Geneva
Day 1

The Civil Society Forum became one of the key events in the program marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

In 1995, a major shift occurred in the field of human rights. 189 states unanimously adopted two documents that meticulously outlined strategies for implementing gender equality in policies. The scale of the event is difficult to put into words. Essentially, the understanding of women’s rights and freedoms was unified across various races, cultures, and nationalities. Since then, the effectiveness of implementing the principles of Beijing has been evaluated at Civil Society Forums and government summits.

Every five years, representatives from civil society organizations and government delegations from European countries, as well as North America (Canada and the United States), Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan), and Western Asia (Israel), gather in Geneva to discuss progress on the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

To assess progress, thematic sessions were held, one of which focused on “Women in Armed Conflicts.” A working group consisting of representatives from civil organizations Marelie Mander (FAWCO), Natia Kostava (Global Network of Women Peacebuilders), Kelly Franklin Talon (Courage for Freedom), and Daniela Chivu (National Council of Women of Canada) prepared an analytical document to be presented to the participants of the session.

Ukrainian representatives emphasized the importance of using the word “war” when discussing the impact of conflict on women’s rights, especially as such terminology is referenced in UN General Assembly Resolutions.

Public activist and member of the Ukrainian delegation, Marina Rudenko, stated: “In our view, politically neutral language such as ‘conflict and geopolitical tensions in the region,’ used in the final document, does not accurately reflect the nature of the events and harms the analysis of violations of women’s rights in the region, as well as the condemnation of the actions of the aggressor country. A conflict involves the intensification of contradictions between two countries, whereas in Ukraine, we are facing unjustified armed aggression.”

Ukrainian delegates at the Forum, from right to left: Oleksandra Harmash, Marina Rudenko, and Nina Chala.

The Ukrainian delegates spoke about the millions of women and girls from Ukraine who were forced to flee the country, escaping from war, and the thousands who have been killed or injured. Russian soldiers have been committing sexual violence against civilians, both women and men, children, prisoners of war, and civilian captives since 2014, as documented by the International Criminal Court. This information must also be included in the final document of the Civil Society Forum. In addition to the tens of thousands of men, women, and children killed, entire cities are being leveled, and Ukraine’s infrastructure and economy are being destroyed. The environment and agriculture have suffered irreparable damage. For example, thousands of farming enterprises, including those led by women, have been lost due to massive missile strikes and occupation. The destruction of Ukraine’s agricultural sector and the disruption of agricultural product transport pose a food security threat to other regions of the world, particularly in Africa and Asia.

The moderators of the “Women in Armed Conflict” session, Kelly Franklin Talon and Marelie Mander, gathered suggestions and recommendations for states and civil organizations during the discussions. Unfortunately, it was not possible to amend the final document, so the Ukrainian delegation decided to create an alternative final document.