The twelfth meeting of the Commission for Coordination of Interaction of Executive Bodies to Ensure Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men was held with the participation of First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska.
The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. It was attended by Members of Parliament, Ministers, members of the Commission, representatives of regional administrations, the Office of the Prosecutor General, international and civil society organizations, and diplomats.
This year, the Commission’s work is focused on the key events of 2025: the 25th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution on Women, Peace and Security; the 20th anniversary of the Law of Ukraine “On Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men;” the completion of the second National Action Plan “Women, Peace and Security” and preparation of the third plan until 2030; the third anniversary of the Framework Cooperation Program between Ukraine and the UN on the Prevention and Response to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence; the fifth anniversary of Ukraine’s participation in the Biarritz Partnership and the results of implementing the commitments undertaken.
Olena Zelenska reminded that Ukraine joined the Biarritz Partnership before the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation; however, the war cast doubt on whether the relevant programs could continue.
“In 2022, we made a difficult but principled choice: the country had to continue fulfilling its development commitments – both to its own people and to its European partners. That is why, throughout all the years of our defense, the Biarritz Partnership has been implemented without any wartime exceptions, without regard to fatigue or additional pressures,” the First Lady stressed.
The President’s wife noted that there has been progress on each of the five commitments under the Partnership. Ukraine has adopted a national barrier-free environment strategy; gender audits have been conducted in educational institutions, identifying what needs to be addressed to ensure gender equality in education; the Verkhovna Rada passed a law supporting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and providing interim reparations, and now the Ministry of Social Policy must ensure its implementation; the Parliament also introduced paid parental leave for fathers and made leave for mothers more flexible.
“But we still need to align our legislation with EU directives. And we must work to reduce the gender pay gap. Women are taking on more and more – and the remuneration must be fair,” Olena Zelenska said.
In this year’s Global Gender Gap Report, Ukraine ranks 62nd – up one position compared with the previous year. Before the war, Ukraine ranked 66th.