Message from Dafina Gercheva, UNDP Ukraine Resident Representative, on the occasion of International Women’s Day

Kyiv, 8 March 2021 – Today we celebrate the achievements of all women, and their potential to contribute to a fairer, more equal world.

As we all remember, it was shortly after the last year’s International Women’s Day, on 11 March 2020, that the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease to be a global pandemic. It was the start of an unprecedented journey for everyone on the planet.

It is true to say that women have borne a disproportionate share of the burdens brought about by the pandemic. Their roles as health care workers, shop assistants, and in other low-income areas of employment bring them into close contact with others, and thus an increased risk of infection by the novel coronavirus. They shoulder an unequal load of childcare and care for elderly family members. And under conditions of lockdown, they have faced an increased threat of domestic violence.

Yet as national leaders, women have also achieved some of the most successful outcomes in dealing with the pandemic in their countries. This a proof of the enormous benefits that greater involvement of women in politics at every level brings to bear.

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day – “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” – celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in coping with COVID-19, and their potential to shape a more equal, inclusive, sustainable and just future as the world is recovering from the pandemic.

Here at UNDP we all, women and men, are working hard to ensure this desirable future comes about as soon as possible.  Advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment is a strong accelerator of development. It is central to UNDP’s mandate and integrated service offer to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

UNDP in Ukraine systematically advocates for introducing gender quotas in elections, enhancing women's political participation, and increasing women's engagement in decision-making processes.   We are raising awareness about gender-based violence across the country, including in conflict-affected communities, and providing support to victims and survivors of violence. UNDP is organizing trainings on GBV prevention for judges, police, state emergency service staff, and is providing online psychosocial and legal aid for GBV survivors and conflict-affected women.

In 2021, with support from UNDP, newly elected women representatives will be able to unite around the values of equality, non-discrimination and the development of their communities. The Enhancing Women’s Political Participation at the Subnational Level project provides for the development and holding of offline and online training events for newly elected representatives, as well as for the conduct of an educational campaign about the need to ensure the full, free and democratic participation of women in political and public life, on an equal footing with men.

So even amid a pandemic, UNDP’s work to promote gender equality goes an apace. I am sure that this time next year, when the pandemic will hopefully be behind us, we will have even more achievements to look back on, having taken yet more steps on the path to a better, greener, and more equal future.

Happy International Women’s Day!