Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, during her online statement at the opening of the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, emphasized that the full-scale war had demonstrated the importance of everyone's efforts for the survival of Ukraine and the Ukrainian nation; building a better future.

She noted that since February 24, when mostly men were defending the country on the battlefield, women had taken on significant functions in managing processes within the state and supporting its stability.

In particular, she highlighted the role of digital transformation in the fight against the enemy and preserving the functionality of the state. The official assured that digitalization also helped to ensure that everyone who needs help receives it immediately.

"Innovations and technologies have significantly changed our lives, from the way we communicate, the way we work to the way we counter the invaders. Thanks to our technological development before the outbreak of full-scale war, Ukrainians who faced the loss of financial resources, housing, and jobs can now restore documents, register as IDPs online, or fix the destruction of property. At the same time, technology has allowed citizens to report the movement of russian troops across the country from the first hours of full-scale aggression, which has significantly influenced the further course of the war," emphasized Olha Stefanishyna.

She also emphasized the importance of empowering women and girls and supporting their personal development.

"Thanks to digitalization, 72,000 women have already used state employment services online. In addition, we continue to empower women by registering businesses online and providing them with relevant advice. Meanwhile, Ukrainian women are actively involved in the development of digital services. The share of women in Ukrainian IT has increased to 35% in recent years," the Deputy Prime Minister said.

She also emphasized that the development of opportunities, particularly in the digital sphere, was also important for the return of temporarily displaced citizens from abroad.

"It is essential to make sure that women who went abroad because their homes had been destroyed, their jobs lost, their towns and villages occupied, have opportunities to acquire new skills and retrain. This will allow them to maintain their connection with the state and support it from afar. At the same time, it is an additional incentive for them to return home after Ukraine's victory and realize their potential in the recovery process," said Olha Stefanishyna.

The theme of the 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women is innovation and technological change and education in the digital age to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

The Head of the Ukrainian Delegation is Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, who is participating in the Commission's events online.

Background

The Commission on the Status of Women is a functional body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It reviews the application of international standards for the protection and promotion of women's rights and develops proposals for their implementation.