Women, War + Leadership: A Gendered Perspective on Peace+Conflict in Ukraine

19.05.2022

Women, War, and Leadership: A Gendered Perspective on Peace and Conflict in Ukraine
On the occasion of a visit to the United States of a delegation of Ukrainian women leaders, the International Peace Institute (IPI) and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) will co-host a virtual event on the gender dimensions of the war in Ukraine. The delegation includes members of the Ukrainian parliament, human rights advocates, anti-corruption experts, and influential civil society activists who will share information about the ongoing war in Ukraine and the external support needed to advance a peace process.

Opening Remarks:
Adam Lupel, Vice President and COO, IPI
Marcel Röthig, Director, Ukraine and Moldova Office, FES

Speakers:
Halyna Yanchenko, Member, Ukrainian Parliament
Olena Tregub, Secretary-General, Independent Defence Anti-Corruption Committee (NAKO)


Moderator:
Phoebe Donnelly, Senior Fellow and Head of the Women, Peace, and Security Program, IPI

Women and girls always suffer from the atrocities of war, yet they are not just silent victims. From the first days of the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian women have fought in the military and territorial defense forces served on the diplomatic and informational front lines, and played a central role in decision-making. They have saved dozens of lives as doctors, nurses, hospital workers, volunteers, activists, and train conductors. They have given birth in metro stations and basements used as bomb shelters. They continue to support the economy through their work in agriculture, manufacturing, information technology, and the service sector, as well as by running businesses. Those living overseas have organized mass protests in countries all over the world.

However, hundreds of women and girls in Ukraine have become victims of sexual assault and torture committed by the Russian army, and reports have documented the increasing use of rape as a weapon of war. At the same time, women and girls who have fled to Poland struggle to access abortions and are vulnerable to human trafficking and victimization by their hosts. As most men are prohibited from leaving Ukraine, many women refugees also bear multiple burdens as caretakers of children and the elderly and the sole breadwinners for their families.

Despite the critical role women are playing in Ukraine, the perspective of women has been noticeably absent from the dominant narratives about the war. To remedy this, this event will provide a gender perspective on the war in Ukraine, focusing on the vital need for womens involvement in both a potential peace process and the eventual process of national reconstruction.

This event will be streamed live on IPI`s website, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) New York Office | 747 Third Avenue, Suite 34D, New York, NY 10017

When: Thursday, May 19, 2022
9:00–10:30 am EDT
CLICK TO JOIN US LIVE Link

Quelle: FES)New York Office