On October 16, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna held the first meeting of the Commission for Coordination of Interaction of Executive Bodies to Ensure Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men.

"Our efforts should focus on practical work that will ensure equal opportunities and rights for women and men in Ukraine. By the end of the month, it is important to complete the preparation of a new National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 "Women, Peace, Security" and immediately approve it at a Government meeting", said Olha Stefanishyna. "After all, only in close cooperation and clear coordination with each other can the executive authorities develop and implement a number of solutions to overcome gender inequality in Ukraine."

The participants of the meeting discussed a number of priority issues, in particular:

implementation of Ukraine’s commitments under the Biarritz Partnership initiative and inclusion those commitments in the Government’s Medium-Term Priority Action Plan for 2021-2023;

the progress of development of the National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 "Women. Peace. Security "until 2025;

providing a comprehensive integrated approach to overcoming domestic and gender-based violence;

action plan for the implementation of the Communication Concept in the field of gender equality.

During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister heard proposals from ministries, MPs and participants of the online meeting and voiced her priorities for preparing government decisions in the field of gender equality. The participants also approved the Commission's action plan for 2020-2021, which will contribute to its more effective work, help ensure coordinated cooperation of executive bodies on the implementation of a single state policy aimed at achieving equal rights and opportunities for women and men.

"Ukraine's accession to the Biarritz Partnership on the initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska and the signing of the Decree on Combating Domestic Violence by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy have already become rather critical steps towards gender equality," Olha Stefanishyna added. "There is still a lot of work ahead, including our Commission, so I, as Chair, will make every effort to ensure that Ukraine properly fulfills its international obligations to ensure equal conditions and opportunities for men and women, as reflected in the Association Agreement with the EU, as well as in the Sustainable Development Goals."

The meeting was attended by members of the Commission, advisers to ministers and heads of executive bodies on gender issues, as well as representatives of the Office of the President's wife.

The Commission for Coordination of Interaction of Executive Bodies on Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men was established by the Government Decision of September 2, 2020 as an advisory body to the Government chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.