The IOC rejects accusations of Russian war propaganda in Ukraine

The United States remains deeply committed to protecting women’s rights and expanding their voices, Katrina Fotovat, head of the US Secretary of State’s Office for Global Women’s Affairs, said during a virtual meeting dedicated to women’s leadership in Ukraine, the role of Ukrainian women in winning the war and their fight for the future of Ukraine. Throughout the history of Ukraine, women played a decisive role in the struggle for freedom, Fotovat emphasized.

The meeting was attended by US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, Ukrainian Ambassador to the USA Oksana Markarova, singer Ruslana Lyzhychko and journalist Nataliya Humenyuk.

The face of the future reconstruction will also be female

Oksana Markarova emphasized that the percentage of women in the Ukrainian army is one of the highest in comparison with European allies. The diplomat mentioned the efforts of the Nobel laureate Oleksandra Matviychuk, as well as the wife of the President of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, who represented Kyiv at many events abroad. Markarova also reminded that, despite the war, the first lady of the USA, Jill Biden, visited Uzhgorod on Mother’s Day last year.

“After the victory in the war, the face of our future reconstruction will also be female,” said the Ukrainian diplomat. “Therefore, we must thank our women and support them, support each other.”

More guns for women

During the meeting, singer Ruslana Lyzhichko appealed to all celebrities – singers and politicians, business people to be even more active in helping Ukraine: “It’s not only about Ukraine. It’s about all of us, the whole world. If we want to have a “tomorrow” , then we need to end this war today.” Ruslana emphasized that Ukraine needs more weapons, including for the 60,000 women who fight in the Ukrainian army.

Head of the Public Interest Journalism Laboratory Nataliya Humenyuk spoke about the invaluable contribution of female reporters, journalists, as well as those experts who today listen to and document the crimes of Russian forces in Ukraine. In addition to hard and exhausting work, these women, Humenyuk reminded, continue to be the main caregivers in their own families, responsible for the safety of their own children.

Entire communities were saved thanks to their female leaders

The expert emphasized the important role of elders – women who lead a huge number of communities that were in danger during the attack of Russian troops. At the same time, mayors and village heads perform an abnormally large amount of work for disproportionately low pay for their work, so usually women are ready to do this work, Nataliya Humenyuk noted.

According to her, this is an incredible example of female leadership. Often whole communities were saved thanks to their leaders. “Let’s be honest, sometimes they had to negotiate with the occupiers to save their people. Sometimes the women, when they approached the invaders, tried to just pretend to be elderly mothers, maybe to get more respect. But for themselves, it was an incredible danger. And you know about cases when women in Ukraine were killed precisely because they were leaders of communities,” Humenyuk said.

She believes that local women leaders can save the country by reducing suffering in their communities and contribute to victory in the war.

The journalist also noted the role of male and female teachers, who actually do a double job today – not only teach students in their cities and villages who stayed at home, but also support the online learning process for those children who went abroad or were scattered throughout Ukraine after the Russian intrusion.

Assistance to victims, support of women’s leadership, as well as grants to “women’s business” in Ukraine from the USA

The US ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, remarked: “I am absolutely sure that Ukraine would not be able to resist Russia’s terrible, barbaric war as it is today, if it were not for its women, who are contributing in every possible way.”

The MP noted the contribution of women to the development of Ukrainian legislation – more than 100 bills have been introduced by Ukrainian MPs since the beginning of the war.

The United States, Brink emphasized, constantly helps Ukraine to expand the opportunities of women, which includes assistance in various professional fields, as well as to those who have suffered from war, in particular, from sexual violence. In addition, American support for women’s political leadership and women in business continues. In particular, it is about granting grants to enterprises owned by women.