Achievements and challenges in gender equality: Ukraine prepares its Tenth Periodic Report to the UN Committee

An expert discussion was held in Kyiv on the draft of Ukraine’s Tenth Periodic Report on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) for 2022–2026. First Deputy Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine Liudmyla Shemelynets took part in the discussion.

The event brought together representatives of central and local executive authorities, international and civil society organizations, as well as gender equality experts.

Participants reviewed Ukraine’s main achievements in fulfilling international commitments on gender equality during the reporting period, while also focusing on key challenges and future priorities of state policy.

“Over these years Ukraine has achieved much in the field of gender equality. We see that fewer professions are perceived exclusively as male or female. This has become especially evident since the start of the full‑scale war. However, today we also face a heightened number of cases of violence and discrimination, particularly against women. Therefore, we must focus on what has not yet been achieved and the tasks that lie ahead,” said Liudmyla Shemelynets.

The First Deputy Minister also expressed gratitude to UN Women and international partners for their support of Ukraine.

In addition, five thematic discussions were held during the event. They addressed institutional and legal foundations of gender equality, protection of women’s rights in conflict conditions, the role of women in the security and defense sector, overcoming discrimination in the social sphere, and gender equality in the economic sphere.

During these thematic sessions, participants provided expert comments and proposals to the draft Tenth Periodic Report to CEDAW, which will be taken into account in finalizing the document.

The event was organized at the initiative of the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine in partnership with the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, within the framework of the UN Women Strategic Note in Ukraine (2025–2029), with financial support from the governments of Denmark, Norway, Poland, Finland, and Sweden.

It should be noted, Liudmyla Shemelynets recently met with the UN Women delegation to discuss the gender audit, reparations, and implementation of the National Action Plan 1325.