By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN Women on Wednesday said that 3 years of war in Ukraine have reversed decades of progress for women and girls, left millions in urgent need of support.
The agency reported that Russia’s full-scale invasion has forced over 1.8 million to flee their homes within Ukraine, while 6.7 million require humanitarian assistance.
Over 3,799 women and 289 girls have been killed, though the real toll is believed to be significantly higher, UN Women stated
Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine said that “The full-scale war has pushed an entire generation of Ukrainian women backwards.”
“They are facing heightened exposure to gender-based violence; rising unemployment; decreased decision-making power; greater domestic burdens; and a severe mental health crisis,” she explained.
UN Women reported that gender-based violence has surged by 36 per cent since 2022, driven in part by conflict-related stress. The depression rates among women and girls have worsened.
It noted that on the economic front, opportunities have reduced. By 2024, less than half of displaced women had jobs whilst the gender pay gap doubled since the war began.
He burden of unpaid care, from cooking to caring for children, has intensified as childcare services centres have closed and services dwindled. Women spent an average of 56 hours a week on childcare in 2024, up from 49 hours before the war.
The agency stressed that despite these hardships, Ukrainian women are leading humanitarian responses and driving economic resilience.
Women have assumed key roles as aid workers, community leaders and entrepreneurs. Today, one in every two businesses in Ukraine is founded by a woman.
Women are entering traditionally male-dominated sectors such as security, transportation and demining.
Ms. Gunes said “Donors’ support to Ukrainian women-led organizations and programmes is crucial so they can continue promoting gender equality, women’s rights and leadership”.
“Women’s full engagement will be essential to rebuild Ukraine as a gender-equal and gender-responsive society,” she added.
In 2024, UN Women supported over 180,000 women and girls affected by the war through initiatives under the Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund.
The agency provides life-saving humanitarian aid, psychosocial and legal support, protection services and programmes to strengthen women’s economic independence.
UN Women is working to ensure that women are included in decision-making and recovery efforts, advocating for legal reforms to secure equal rights and representation.
UN aid coordination office in Ukraine reported that an attack on Odesa City in the small hours of Wednesday morning had injured a number of civilians, including a child.
Local authorities said the attack left a large residential area without electricity and heating, affected 160,000 people in the midst of winter.
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric in New York told reporters that “Multiple apartment buildings were damaged, as well as a children’s hospital, and a kindergarten. For our part, we are providing emergency shelter materials, hot meals, psychosocial support, legal aid, and child protection services”.
He noted that medical teams are conducting quick health checks and distributing medicines, while schools will remain closed until power and heating are restored.
Dujarric added that in Kherson aid workers have responded to an attack that took place on 17 February, and damaged a critical energy facility.
He said over 2500 residents were left without electricity, heating, and water.
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