‘Women for a Stronger Ukraine’: The European Union supports and builds synergy of Ukrainian women

On 27 March, the EU Delegation to Ukraine organised a meeting in Kyiv entitled ‘Women for a Stronger Ukraine’. The high-level event brought together senior officials, experts, activists and opinion leaders to discuss the challenges faced by women in Ukraine, particularly in the context of the war and its aftermath.

According to Katarina Mathernova, Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, the EU announces a call of proposals for CSOs amounting EUR 14 million, including EUR 5 million with a focus on gender leadership and conflict.

The call will be launched in May 2025.

Through this funding, the EU will support a number of projects that will bring together women from diverse backgrounds, regions, and sectors, ensuring they play a central role in the reconstruction and shaping the future of Ukraine,” Ambassador Katarina Mathernova said.

The lives of millions of Ukrainian women and their families have been dramatically changed due to russia’s large-scale war. Thousands of women are defending Ukraine with weapons in their hands, and on the home front, it is women who have been forced to take on the burden of rebuilding life in the face of war and already contributing to overcoming its consequences. This is not only about participating in reconstruction, public and political life, but also about the challenges of systemic psychological pressure and burnout, which have negative consequences and reduce women’s potential and opportunities. Growing tensions in society are also leading to an increase in the number of cases of domestic and sexual violence. Participants at the Women for a Stronger Ukraine meeting discussed how to remedy the situation and help women in such difficult wartime realities.

They shared their own stories and life experiences, information on how to access EU support programmes, and constructively and emotionally discussed ways to increase women’s participation and role in Ukraine’s reconstruction. Bringing together women being representatives of the authorities, political and opinion leaders, and establishing a direct dialogue between them will help to identify and implement effective and realistic solutions in support of the most vulnerable groups, helping them to regain their self-confidence and return to active life.

The challenges faced by women and the new opportunities offered by EU support were discussed at the panel discussions titled ‘War crimes against women as a weapon of russia’, ‘Accessing government support programmes and funding: displaced women and military families’, and at the experience exchange session ‘Combating domestic violence’.

The discussion was attended by Oksana Zholnovych, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, Oleksandra Matviichuk, Nobel Peace Prize 2022 Laureate and Head of the Center for Civil Liberties, Lenia Umerova, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar activist who was held captive in russia, Liudmyla Huseinova, activist and public figure, former civilian prisoner from occupied Novoazovsk, Donetsk region, Maryna Bardina, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament, and other activists from the women’s movement, members of NGOs, and psychologists.

At the end of the meeting, the participants, led by Anzhelika Rudnytska, the singer, TV presenter, artist, civic activist and volunteer, created an artwork depicting a yellow and blue flower – a symbol of spring, life and Ukraine’s restoration in the European family.