Ukrainian Delegation Effectively Presented Position at UN Commission on the Status of Women - Fraser Gunesh

During a recent press conference at Ukrinform, Sabine Fraser Gunesh, the UN Women representative in Ukraine, discussed the achievements of the Ukrainian delegation at the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. She noted that this year's Ukrainian delegation was exceptionally strong, reflecting the significance of issues related to justice, accountability, and the rights of victims for the country. Fraser Gunesh emphasized that this strength enabled Ukraine to clearly convey its position, which was articulated in the agreed conclusions.

According to her statements, the session took place against a backdrop of increasing resistance to gender equality and rising international tensions. For the first time in the Commission's history, the agreed conclusions were adopted through voting rather than consensus. Fraser Gunesh pointed out that there were attempts to roll back previously agreed language and formulations, which raised concerns among session participants.

The theme of this year's UN Commission session, specifically women's access to justice, is critically important for Ukraine. Fraser Gunesh stressed that the agreed conclusions highlight the necessity of implementing reforms in the justice sector, eliminating discrimination against women through legislative changes, and conducting gender analysis. She also noted that these recommendations apply to all member states, not just Ukraine, which is already actively conducting such analyses.

A particular focus at the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women was on justice issues in the context of war and recovery. Fraser Gunesh emphasized that the work currently being undertaken in Ukraine to establish a reparations system is fully in line with the agreed conclusions. She mentioned that the conclusions also call for the recognition of the work of paralegals, who are active citizens trained in legal matters.

Fraser Gunesh also highlighted that there is ongoing work in Ukraine regarding the use of paralegal services for victims of sexual violence related to the conflict. She underscored the importance of this aspect, as it pertains not only to justice but also to supporting women who have become victims of violence during the war.

Additionally, the agreed conclusions address the development of digital justice and innovations. Fraser Gunesh noted that this is a relatively new area of work, but UN Women in Ukraine, along with some press conference participants, is working on innovative solutions to ensure that victims of sexual violence can access justice digitally. Among such tools, she mentioned the online platform 'It Happened' and the mobile application 'Advisor' for victims.

It is important to remember that the Ukrainian delegation at the UN Commission on the Status of Women focused on issues of justice for victims of crimes committed during the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine. This topic remains extremely relevant and important, considering the contemporary challenges facing the country.