Statement by Chargée d’Affaires,

Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine Khrystyna Hayovyshyn

at the general discussion of the 63^rd session of 

the Commission on Social Development

12 February 2025

Madame Chair,

Ukraine aligns itself with the Statement delivered by the EU and would like to make few remarks in our national capacity.

With the increasing number and scale of conflicts worldwide, our global community faces a deepening crisis of solidarity and peaceful coexistence. This trend threatens to reverse hard-won progress, disrupt global development efforts, and jeopardize the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. Yet, the adoption of the Pact for the Future has underscored the power of global commitment to multilateralism, reaffirming our shared principles and collective responsibilities.

As highlighted in the reports of the Secretary-General, 692 million people continue to live in extreme poverty, while 733 million face hunger. One of the drivers of this regression is the Russiaт Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine, whose devastating consequences extend far beyond our borders. This war has destabilized global food security, exacerbated energy crises, and widened social inequalities, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable populations worldwide.

In two weeks, on February 24, we will reach third year of the Russian Federation’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. Over these years, the war has inflicted devastating human losses and created one of Europe’s largest displacement crises, affecting a third of Ukraine’s population. It has also severely disrupted social and economic development. Today, 12.7 million Ukrainians – 31% of the population – require humanitarian assistance. The loss of human capital, forced displacement, and destruction of critical infrastructure continue to exacerbate social vulnerabilities and threaten long-term recovery.

Despite these immense challenges, Ukraine remains resolute in strengthening social resilience and accelerating recovery. The Government has prioritized social protection, mental health support, and economic inclusion, ensuring that no one is left behind.

A key initiative in this effort is the Comprehensive Social Service for Resilience Building, implemented in partnership with WHO, UNICEF, and UNDP. This program, operating across 243 communities in 23 regions, strengthens social cohesion, coordinates and trains volunteers, enhances mental health support, and provides targeted assistance to displaced persons and vulnerable populations.

Recognizing the importance of inclusive and accessible services, the Government has also established Resilience Centers – integrated hubs providing social protection, employment assistance, legal aid, and support for veterans and displaced persons. Additionally, new housing and financial assistance programs for internally displaced persons have been launched, including the “Shelter” Project, set to begin in January 2025, which will compensate families hosting displaced individuals.

Furthermore, Ukraine continues reforming care services for persons with disabilities, the elderly, and children who have lost their parents—placing special emphasis on family-based care for children. The Government is also rapidly digitalizing social support systems, with over half of all social benefits now centrally assigned through a single information system. This includes the digitization of humanitarian aid monitoring and accounting, ensuring more efficient and transparent assistance.

To counter demographic crisis, caused by the Russian war, the Government has adopted the Demographic Development Strategy until 2040, prioritizing human capital restoration, sustainable social policies, and economic reintegration. Ukraine is committed to addressing these challenges through a holistic and inclusive approach, reinforcing the role of social inclusion, resilience, gender equality, and economic opportunities in post-war recovery.

While Ukraine continues to navigate the profound social consequences of the war, we remain steadfast in our commitment to multilateral cooperation to accelerate the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We look forward to the upcoming World Social Summit in Qatar this November as an opportunity to strengthen collective efforts in addressing global challenges.

We firmly believe that once a just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law is achieved and stability is restored, Ukraine will transition to a key contributor, sharing expertise and best practices to enhance global resilience, social inclusion, and cohesion. We therefore reiterate our call on the international community to intensify efforts to exert pressure on the Russian Federation to put an end to its unjustifiable war of aggression against a sovereign State.

Thank you.