TORONTO – The annual meeting of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations (WFUWO) was held on August 21-23 in Kyiv, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. However, the celebration was clouded by the fact that this anniversary was being marked at a time when there was growing military aggression in eastern Ukraine.
The meeting took place at the Kozatskyi Hotel on Kyiv’s Independence Square. Officially there were 18 delegates and nine official guests representing WFUWO member organizations. However, invited guests and representatives of women’s organizations of Ukraine were also present. Therefore, most of the sessions were attended by some 50 attendees.
Greetings to the WFUWO assembly were expressed by Dr. Iryna Kliuchkovska, director of the International Institute for Education, Culture and Relations with the Diaspora; National Deputy Irina Suslova, chair of the Verkhovna Rada Subcommittee on Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination; Dr. Lyudmila Porokhniak Hanovska, president of the National Council of Women of Ukraine; and Eugene Czolij, president of the Ukrainian World Congress. All speakers commended the WFUWO on its efforts and multi-faceted activities, expressing best wishes for continued success.
The official part of the business meeting included the adoption of the administrative annual reports. A positive commendation by the Auditing Committee congratulated the WFUWO executive on its leadership and positive efforts.
President Orysia Sushko identified important issues dealt with during the report period (September 2015 to July 2016). This included information on the WFUWO membership, which identified 30 national organizations in 20 countries on four continents. She was pleased to inform the meeting that the application for WFUWO membership by the Women’s League of Luxembourg was approved by the executive and, in accordance with the by-laws, would be presented to the annual meeting for ratification. Therefore, the latest information on membership shows 31 national organizations in 21 countries. Ms. Sushko mentioned that another national organization has indicated interest in joining the ranks of the WFUWO and that negotiations are in process.
Her report further detailed the WFUWO’s efforts during the past year, which included correspondence with the government of Ukraine and other countries on relevant issues, contacts with WFUWO members and community members, a variety of visitations, etc. The outstanding efforts put forth by WFUWO members in assisting Ukraine at this time were also highlighted. Ms. Sushko said that, from the beginning of the Maidan, WFUWO member organizations provided, and continue to provide, tremendous support to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. In addition, the intensive efforts by both the executive and member organizations to secure the release of Nadiya Savchenko were noted.
Member organizations gave their reports, for the most part with the support of videos or PowerPoint presentations, outlining the monumental efforts put forth by their membership in varied spheres of efforts and, more specifically, in providing various forms of assistance to Ukraine, such as financial aid; support for the troops; aid to families, children and women; and assistance to survivors of war.
Martha Kichorowska Kebalo, chair of the WFUWO Commission to the United Nations and its main representative to the U.N. Economic and Social Council, reported on the activities of the WFUWO’s U.N. group in New York.
During the report period, WFUWO U.N. participated (actively and supportively in various ways) in no fewer than 24 events, Dr. Kebalo stated. The group organized at least seven events: it co-sponsored “Peace is the Path,” a report to the U.N. on the Women’s Dialogue Meeting of 2015; created an NGO-led panel titled “Art as a Tool for Prevention of Conflict” together with the U.N. Department of Public Information; presented a slide-show/talk on Ukraine NGO projects helping women displaced by the war in Ukraine; together with Ukraine’s Permanent Mission to the U.N., organized a side event on the “The Sustainable Development Goals and the Needs of Women IDPs [internally displaced persons] in Ukraine”; organized a roundtable (at Ukraine’s Mission) for an encounter between NGOs of Ukraine and the diaspora together with representatives of donor organizations and U.N. agencies active in Ukraine; organized two presentations of Dr. Marianna Rubchak’s book “New Imaginaries” in New York at the Ukrainian Museum and the Shevchenko Scientific Society.
Dr. Kebalo also cited WFUWO efforts at the U.N. in New York and Geneva that were focused on “Women – Peace and Security,” especially since the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine in March 2014. “WFUWO U.N. has been consistently drawing attention to the problems as well as the empowerment of women during this time of conflict,” she underscored.
Dr. Olexandra Kunovska Mondoux reported on her representation at the United Nations office in Geneva. “The main focus of my efforts during this past year was to develop positive relationships with various representatives of the United Nations in Geneva and establish the position of the WFUWO among the many women’s organizations that are active mainly in the territory of the Swiss Confederation,” she said. She reported that her efforts were mainly focused on the representation of the WFUWO in the Committee on the Status of Women in Geneva, participating in the 30th-32nd sessions of the Human Rights Council, as well as participation in activities and meetings of various international and local non-governmental organizations. “It was vital to provide the international community information about the situation in eastern Ukraine and in Crimea,” she noted, “and to advise them of the tireless efforts being put forward relative to the protection of the rights of Ukrainian women during this wartime period.”
The detailed reports presented by Dr. Kebalo and Dr. Mondoux will be published in the next issue of the journal Ukrainian Woman in the World, on the WFUWO website and on the Facebook page WFUWO at the U.N.
Annual meeting participants also received information regarding the programs of some of the women’s organizations in Ukraine and participated in discussions related to the future efforts of the WFUWO.
Dr. Kliuchkowska of the International Institute for Education, Culture and Relations with the Diaspora delivered an extremely informative overview on the theme “The Role of Women in Contemporary Ukraine.” Her presentation will be published in the next issue of Ukrainian Woman in the World.
Dr. Hanovska of the National Council of Women of Ukraine (NCWU) presented detailed information about the council’s extensive and varied activities, and invited some of the member organizations to join her in presenting information about their organizations.
Dr. Oreslava Chomyk, president of the League of Ukrainian Women of Ukraine, shared information about its programs, and specifically the intensive assistance being provided to the army and families of war victims in eastern Ukraine.
Dr. Tamara Melnyk, a gender equality expert, gave a most informative address on the evolution of and current conditions for gender equality in Ukraine. She is the author of countless articles and books on this topic.
Her presentation was followed by a panel discussion on the topic “Equal Opportunities in the Process of Creating a Culture of Peace.” Dr. Kebalo introduced the moderator, Ella Lamakh, head of the NGO Center for Democratic Development, who organized the panel. The main speaker was Natalia Fedorovych of the Ministry of Social Policy and head of the Department on Family, Gender Issues and Counter-Trafficking, who reviewed U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on “women, peace and security” and its significance and implementation in Ukraine.
Panel participants were: Kateryna Levchenko, executive director of the NGO La Strada; Dr. Halyna Majstruk of the NGO Women’s Health and Family Planning; and Dr. Valentina Bondarovska, founder and director of the NGO Center Rozrada. Participants shared information on the ways their organizations embody the spirit of Resolution 1325 in accordance with the national plan for its implementation that was adopted by the Ukrainian government in February of this year.
An “issues analysis” discussion chaired by Ms. Sushko strove to allow all the participants to share their views and identify issues important for the further successful activities of the WFUWO. The following topics were discussed: general education (which also includes ensuring that disseminated information about Ukraine is accurate); information technology and communication; membership commitment, dues and development; and the culture of peace, including the issue of immigration.
Dr. Hanovska surprised all present with a most touching gesture by honoring the president of the WFUWO, the presidents of WFUWO member organizations, the main representatives to the United Nations, representatives of women’s organizations in Ukraine and the administrator of the WFUWO with the NCWU Order of Peace and Love.
The WFUWO extended heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Hanovska, who made arrangements for the meeting and assisted in various aspects during its duration. As a show of appreciation for her efforts and assistance, she was recognized with the WFUWO’s prestigious Kniahynia Olha Award presented by the organization’s president, Ms. Sushko.