Since 2015, UN Women Ukraine has played a central role in advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda by placing women and girls at the heart of decision-making, humanitarian response, and recovery efforts amid prolonged conflict and Russia’s full-scale invasion. Despite operating under active war conditions, Ukraine has demonstrated strong political commitment to gender equality through the continued development and implementation of National Action Plans for UNSCR 1325, making it the only country globally to update such a plan during an ongoing war. This sustained engagement has positioned Ukraine among the top countries worldwide advancing the WPS agenda, while reinforcing women’s leadership, agency, and resilience across society.
Over the past decade, women have increasingly emerged as key actors in Ukraine’s resilience and recovery. Women-led civil society organizations have rapidly adapted to meet the needs of displaced and war-affected populations, delivering humanitarian aid, social services, and protection initiatives while also shaping local governance and community responses. Through UN Women’s support, the WPS agenda has been localized across multiple regions, enabling women to participate in community-level decision-making, identify service gaps, and implement practical initiatives that strengthen safety, social cohesion, and livelihoods in war-affected areas.
Significant progress has also been made in protecting women’s rights and addressing conflict-related sexual violence. UN Women has supported Ukraine in establishing a coordinated, survivor-centered national response grounded in international standards and strong partnerships with government institutions and civil society. A landmark achievement was the adoption of legislation in 2024 providing interim reparations for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence during active conflict, a global first. This approach prioritizes dignity, recognition, and long-term recovery by linking reparations to justice, psychosocial support, legal aid, and economic empowerment, while ensuring that survivors’ voices shape national policies and recovery frameworks.
The war’s gendered impact has underscored the need for inclusive and equitable recovery. Women and girls make up a majority of those in need of humanitarian assistance and internally displaced persons, while women-led organizations continue to face chronic funding gaps. In response, the Alliance for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery for Ukraine was launched in 2024, bringing together governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector to ensure that recovery efforts integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment. The Alliance seeks to address missed opportunities in aid financing, where most international assistance has lacked explicit gender equality objectives, and to embed inclusion, accountability, and rights-based approaches in rebuilding processes.
Progress has also been recorded in gender-responsive security sector reform. Ukrainian women now serve across all areas of national defense, with growing representation in combat and leadership roles, supported by legal reforms, gender audits, adviser networks, and improved institutional policies aligned with EU and NATO standards. These changes have contributed to a more inclusive security environment, even as traditional stereotypes persist. Ongoing reforms within the armed forces, police, and emergency services reflect Ukraine’s broader commitment to transforming gender norms in defense and security during wartime.
Despite notable achievements, challenges remain substantial. Declining international funding for gender equality, persistent gender stereotypes, and uneven localization and monitoring mechanisms risk undermining hard-won gains. Marginalized groups, including displaced women, women veterans, ethnic minorities, and women with disabilities, continue to face barriers to access and representation. Lessons from the past decade highlight the importance of intersectional approaches, sustainable and flexible funding, robust monitoring systems, and meaningful engagement with women-led organizations at all levels. Addressing these gaps will be critical to safeguarding progress and ensuring an inclusive, resilient, and rights-based recovery for Ukraine in the years ahead.
