Ukraine to co-chair the newly created Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict International Alliance

Ukraine has joined international efforts to combat sexual violence in war through its participation in the newly created Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict International Alliance. Ukraine will co-chair the initiative until the end of 2023. The relevant agreements were recorded during a meeting between the Ukrainian and British delegations at the 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York. First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska also took part in the meeting online.

The International Alliance was initiated by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Head of the United Kingdom delegation and Special Representative of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.

"We are grateful to the UK for its active position and support of Ukraine. After the first information about the cases of sexual violence against Ukrainians by russian military personnel, the UK immediately began to provide assistance to Ukraine. And today we have launched the Alliance, which will expand the scope of such support, as well as cooperation with other countries," said Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna, head of the Ukrainian delegation to the 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

The Alliance currently includes 13 countries, in particular: Australia, Luxembourg, Colombia, Japan, South Korea, Nigeria, the United States, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and others.

"The Alliance has already been joined by 13 different countries and we expect more to join over time. Victims of sexual violence must be sure that their perpetrators, including those who gave criminal orders, will be punished both at the national and international level," emphasized Olha Stefanishyna.

Together with Ukraine, Colombia also co-chaired the Alliance.

"The objective of the International Alliance is to effectively and meaningfully include survivors of sexual violence in the process of developing and implementing policies at the international and national levels. Such inclusion of victims means creating conditions for the provision of services and meeting the needs of victims, as well as a constant dialogue with them," emphasized Kateryna Levchenko, Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, Vice-Chair of the Ukrainian delegation in New York.