STATEMENT

by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine H.E. Mr. Oleksandr Karasevych

at the Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security

27 October 2026

Mr. President,

Distinguished Members of the Security Council,

Ukraine is grateful to the Presidency of Greece for convening today’s open debate and for focusing our discussion on the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, which remains particularly relevant at a time when armed conflicts continue to affect millions of women and girls, while their participation in decisions concerning peace and security remains insufficient.

We also thank the Secretary-General H.E. Mr. Antonio Guterres and the UN-Women Executive Director H.E. Ms. Sima Bahous.

Ukraine has accumulated considerable practical experience in implementing this agenda while facing Russia’s aggression, and this experience has shown that the effectiveness of national commitments depends not only on the adoption of policies and action plans, but also on how consistently they are implemented at the national, regional and local levels and how closely state institutions cooperate with civil society and women’s organizations.

In February this year, Ukraine adopted its third National Action Plan on the implementation of resolution 1325 until 2030, covering security and defense, recovery, justice, reparations, protection from conflict-related sexual violence and women’s

participation in decision-making.

Its implementation involves central and local authorities, civil society and women’s organizations, whose experience remains particularly important in identifying the needs of communities affected by the war and ensuring that national policies respond

to the challenges they face.

Mr. President,

Another issue of particular importance for Ukraine is ensuring accountability for war crimes and grave human rights violations committed by the Russian army against women and girls in the course of Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine, including conflict-related sexual violence, which continues to have serious consequences for survivors, their families and affected communities.

The recent OHCHR report on sexual violence in the context of the Russian Federation’s full-scale armed attack on Ukraine further highlights the gravity of these violations. During the reporting period, OHCHR documented 892 cases of conflict-related sexual violence perpetrated by representatives of the Russian Federation, including 151 cases against women and 14 cases against girls.

The report confirmed that sexual violence was used as a method of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, as well as a means of intimidation and coercion. These findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen international cooperation in investigating and prosecuting conflict-related sexual violence and to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.

Ukraine continues to strengthen survivor-centered assistance, improve access to justice and implement mechanisms of reparations, while insisting that those responsible for such crimes must be held accountable and that international cooperation in their investigation and prosecution should be further strengthened.

We also attach particular importance to the role of women-led civil society organizations, many of which work directly with affected communities and continue to provide assistance, identify emerging needs and contribute to the development of

national policies.

At a time of growing financial constraints, it is important to ensure predictable and sustainable support for these organizations, whose work remains essential for the practical implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Ukraine also remains convinced that women’s meaningful participation should be ensured in all efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for our country.

Mr. President,

Twenty-six years after the adoption of resolution 1325, our priority should remain its effective implementation and the ability to ensure that existing commitments produce tangible results for women and girls affected by armed conflict.

Ukraine will continue to contribute to these efforts in close cooperation with the United Nations, Member States and civil society.

I thank you.