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10 OUR LIFE • July 2025 At the end of the Clinton administration, the government’s Vital Voices program evolved into an NGO to continue to support emerging women leaders around the world. And 10 years after Vien - na, we organized a regional Vital Voices conference in Kyiv. I will never forget on the first day of the conference, we gathered at the foreign ministry for a press event. There we were — women leaders of the region — and on the walls of the room star - ing down at us were only men: the former Foreign Ministers of Ukraine. The conference chair said to the gathered journalists: “Well, the men may be on the walls, but the women are at the table.” And so they were. I fast forward to the Revolution of Dignity, the Euromaidan. Not surprisingly, Ukrainian women have been in the vanguard of modern Ukraine. Their leadership on the Maidan across generations stood out to the world and to their fellow Ukraini - ans. They played a pivotal role, from providing legal services and delivering first aid to serving as night guards and key strategists. In many ways, their leadership led to the birth of new effective NGOs. Olexandra Matveychuk, whose organization re - ceived the Nobel Peace Prize, oversaw SOS Maidan and today is documenting war crimes. More wom - en were elected to Parliament. 42% of village coun - cils are now led by women. And more were par - ticipating in economic leadership. They remain at the forefront of the fight for democracy, equality, and anti-corruption. This is the power of the sis - terhood. Today, with russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the world is continuing to witness the heroism, courage, leadership, and steadfast commitment of Ukrainian women to Ukraine’s independence and democracy. When war broke out in the Donbas in 2014, wom - en were key fighters in the volunteer battalions — they constituted what became known as “the in - visible battalion.” It wasn’t until several years later that they were finally allowed to enlist in combat positions, and today, even in senior command po - sitions. Women comprise some 25% of the security sector — a surprise to much of the world — and they are contributing to operational effectiveness, not just by their physical strength but by bringing smart new skills, including in technology, to the battlefield. They have not been just silent victims, but courageous and resilient leaders. They are also spearheading the humanitarian response, serv - ing as extremely effective diplomatic advocates, running women’s organizations and NGOs of all kinds, contributing to Parliamentary decisions in the Rada, creating more new businesses (over 50% have been started by women since the outbreak of the full-scale war of aggression). They are also documenting war crimes, gather - ing evidence and taking cases to the international and domestic courts. Just a couple weeks ago, dur - ing the UN’s Commission on the Status of Wom - en meetings in New York, we supported Ukraine’s efforts to focus on the conflict-related sexual vio - lence perpetrated by russian soldiers and helped to highlight the testimony of survivors who were working to ensure accountability for these crimes against humanity. Ukrainian women’s leadership will be essential if there is to be a just end to the war and a sustaina - ble peace. They are critical to Ukraine’s economic recovery and the recovery of the people, and to ensuring the rebuilding of vibrant democratic insti - tutions. Women must be at the decision-making tables. We at the Georgetown Institute for Wom - en, Peace and Security have produced voluminous research demonstrating the critical difference women make in peace and security. Ukraine must continue to tap the talents of its women. Last month in Warsaw, we, together with the sup - port of the U.K. government and the endorsement of Deputy Prime Minister Stefanyshyna, brought together Ukrainian women leaders across political parties, the private sector, and civil society for dis - cussions on influencing a potential peace process and recovery. The civil society group that includ - ed 18 leading Ukrainian women, including Natalia Karbowska and Olexandra Matviichuk, drafted a compact for Ukraine’s just and sustainable peace. Today here at Ukraine House we are releasing the compact on their behalf — the Women Leaders Co - alition for the Future of Ukraine. I hope you will also give voice to the compact and share it with key international policymakers, including the U.S. government, and others involved in influencing the negotiations. During the Orange Revolution we heard the cho - rus of voices saying “razom nas bohato” — “to - gether we are many.” I think that is also true of the power of sisterhood around the world. Let me end with the wisdom of Lesia Ukrainka: “let your voices be a beacon of truth, ever shining a light on the shadows of injustice and inequality.” It’s a call to action for all of us. After all, we are still on the journey traveled by the pioneering women who came before us. Slava Ukraini!
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