Maryna Lazebna's, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, speech at the 66th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine,
posted
16 March 2022
23:45
Maryna Lazebna, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, speech at the 66th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
I don't have time to report today.
No woman in Ukraine has time.
No man.
No child.
In fact, the whole WORLD has no time.
But not everyone realize this.
Thus today I have a statement.
Since February, the 24th the only thing Ukrainians have time to do is to protect their families, children, homes, freedom and the right to exist.
In fact, we are defending world’s democracy and security. They have proved to be fragile.
We are protecting each of you.
The world is observing our cities being destroyed with aerial bombs, missiles, artillery, tanks.
And how the Russian Federation is cynically killing the civilian population of Ukraine of all nationalities. And Russians as well.
Women, children, the elderly and the wounded are spending endless days in bomb shelters. Under rubble. Under shelling.
The Russian military does not allow bringing them water, food, first aid and evacuating them to safety.
It's like a movie about World War II.
But this is our reality.
• Thousands civilian casualties.
• Hundreds destroyed schools and hospitals.
• Thousands ruined residential buildings.
• Almost three million women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities have been forced to leave their homes with one backpack over their shoulders.
Businesses are closing down because of danger, people are losing their jobs, and families are losing their livelihoods.
Because of the war, the export of products from Ukraine is under threat. This is a challenge to the world's food security.
Our children are deprived of the opportunity to receive education.
This list of crimes against humanity can go on and on.
We all banded together to repel the aggressor.
The armed forces stand to die for every village.
We have queues at military enlistments!
Queues at blood donation points.
Queues for registration for territorial defense.
Under these conditions, we pay pensions and social benefits on time, deliver humanitarian aid under bullets, provide light and heat to the houses. Public transport and hospitals are functioning.
Everyone rose up against the invaders. In Kherson, people were without food for a week, but refused to take it from the Russian military. Peasants stop tanks just with their bare hands.
A woman in Kyiv shot down an enemy drone from her balcony with a can of pickled tomatoes. In Kharkiv women with disabilities in wheelchairs bake cakes for territorial defense fighters.
Tell me, who has the Russian Federation come to liberate
And what is more Russian troops are killing our planet.
On Putin's order, Russia's nuclear forces have been brought into full combat readiness.
Russian troops have seized two nuclear power plants. They are blowing up oil depots.
These are enormous risks to humanity that have not existed since the Cold War!
This must be stopped
I thank all the states, foreign citizens, foreign businesses who understand that this is not just a war in Ukraine. This is a threat to the whole world. Therefore, they support Ukraine and our citizens on the military, diplomatic, economic and information fronts.
I thank you for the sanctions against the Russian Federation. For refusing to cooperate with the aggressor country, to sell to or buy goods from them, to invest there, to do business in their territory. Thank you for the shelter for our refugees, for the humanitarian aid to the victims.
But the world needs more to protect its future.
Therefore, I appeal to you:
• Help stop the aggressor and restore peace.
• Help close the sky over Ukraine so that Russia does not kill our children from the air. We will cope here below.
• Help impose sanctions that will make further war impossible for Russia. So that the price of destroying peace and security would be unbearable for Russia.
• Help force Russia to create humanitarian corridors so that we can help civilians survive.
I believe you haven’t simply listened to me.
For a moment, you have become a mother from Mariupol, holding tight to her heart her 18-month-old son who died because of shelling of Russia.
You have become a woman from Kyiv who throws a can of tomatoes into a drone.
You have become me in such a situation when I can't help people because there are no humanitarian corridors.
I believe that you understand that you do not have time.
And it’s high time to act.
Thank you!