Ukrainian Woman in the World Special Issue on WFUWO at the United Nations December 2014 UKRAINIAN WOMEN IN THE WORLD OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF WFUWO

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014

1 ... A Word from the WFUWO President, Orysia Sushko 4 ... Martha Kichorowska Kebalo and Irene Jarosewich - WFUWO’s NGO Representation at UN Headquarters in New York 11 ... Oleksandra Kunovska Mondoux - WFUWO’s NGO Representation at the UN in Geneva 13 ... Martha Kichorowska Kebalo - Watching out for Ukraine 14 ... Oleksandra Kunovska Mondoux - Women and Media 19 .... Martha Kichorowska Kebalo - Looking Ahead: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence 20 ... WFUWO Statement to the 59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women 22... Nadia Shmigel - WFUWO and the UN NGO Committee on the Family-New York 25 ... Tamara Parubchenko - WFUWO and the UN NGO Committee on UNICEF 27 ... Larysa Dyrszka - Advocacy for Children’s Rights in Ukraine 29 ... Natalia Sonevytsky - WFUWO and the UN Department of Public Information 30 ... Nadiya Danylyshyn - Experiencing the 65th Annual UNDPI NGO Conference 34 ... Moki Kokoris - WFUWO’s Workshop on “Social Media, Surveillance and Information Wars” 36 ... Martha Kichorowska Kebalo - Keeping Crimea in the Ukrainian Narrative 37 ... Ayla Bakkalli - Crimean Tatars at the UN World Conference of Indigenous Peoples 40 ... Sofika Zielyk - Friends of WFUWO, Then and Now: the New Social Media 42 ... Viktoriia Brezheniuk - Ukraine’s New Youth Delegates to the United Nations Program 44 ... WFUWO Executive - WFUWO and the Blue Heart Campaign

Published by the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations UN SPECIAL EDITION GUEST EDITOR: Martha Kichorowska Kebalo Editing and Formatting by Oksana Sushko

Front cover: Postcard from Beijng - 1995 Back cover: “Blue Heart” by Helen Zoe Tate

WORLD FEDERATION OF UKRAINIAN WOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONS 2118A Bloor Street West, Suite 205, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6S 1M8 Tel (416) 546-2491 [email protected] www.wfuwo.org A WORD FROM THE WFUWO PRESIDENT Dear reader of this Special UN Issue of Ukrainian Woman in the World,

The WFUWO unites Ukrainian women’s organizations across the Ukrainian diaspora and encourages a conversation among them about our pri- orities as Ukrainians and as women. Es- sential to our mission, since the founding of WFUWO in 1948, is our participation as Ukrainian women in the world women’s movement and the de- fense of women’s rights within our own Ukrainian communities throughout the world. As the Vice President of the Ukrainian World Congress (founded in 1967), the president of the WFUWO brings these priorities to discussions at Orysia (Irene) Sushko, President of the highest levels of the diaspora. WFUWO, flanked by Dr. Martha Kichorowska Kebalo, Main Represen- This is a time to contemplate many an- tative to UN/ECOSOC in New York and niversaries. The Ukrainian women’s Mrs. Oleksandra Kunovska Mondoux, Main Representative to UN/Geneva, at movement, born in 1884 with the femi- the WFUWO Annual Meeting in Paris nist activism of Natalia Kobrynska, has in July 2014. Orysia Sushko, C.M. was reached its 130th year. Recently, I had recently named one of this year’s Top the pleasure of attending (and the 25 Women of Influence ™ by Women honor of addressing) a conference of Influence, Inc., North America’s commemorating the 80th anniversary leading organization dedicated to the of the first Ukrainian Women’s Con- advancement of women. gress of 1934, held in Ivano-Frankivsk (formerly, Stanyslaviv) in Ukraine. There are also several milestones of Also, in November of 2013, our World the world women’s movement that are Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Or- on our agenda. The WFUWO partici- ganizations crossed its 65th year mark pated in each of the four World in our seventh decade of activism for Women’s Conferences launched by the the preservation of Ukrainian identity, UN Decade for Women. Currently we for Ukrainian independence, and for are following the UN WOMEN- the full equality of all women who re- launched Beijing plus 20 campaign and side in or identify with Ukraine. the upcoming reviews of the imple-

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 1 mentation of the Beijing declaration sion to the United Nations, marked and platform for women’s rights and the 200th anniversary of the birth of gender equality. The WFUWO also Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861), participated in the efforts marking the Ukraine’s most beloved national poet, 20th Anniversary of the UN declared champion of the Ukrainian language, International Year of the Family this self-determination of peoples, human year, with full recognition of the im- rights and social justice. The portance of the domestic sphere as WFUWO marvels at Shevchenko’s foundational to gender equality and deep understanding of the national human rights. And the WFUWO subordination and tremendous empa- joined the effort to raise awareness of thy for the personal exploitation expe- July 31, 2014 as the first UN World rienced by women within colonialism, Day against Human Trafficking, being and the consonance of his philosophy a longtime partner in the UN ODC’s with the Charter of the United Na- “Blue Heart” Campaign. tions that would break ground for human rights in the next century. Ukraine has also made international headlines this year. Ukrainian protes- As Ukrainians mourn the casualties of tors flooded Kyiv’s Maidan square in armed conflict and struggle to help those November 2013, when the people’s displaced by violence, Putin threatens to choice to strengthen ties with Europe destabilize not only the Ukrainian state was betrayed by a corrupt, Russia- but also the entire international order of leaning government. In March 2014, post-WWII Europe. Ukraine needs to re- Russian President Putin’s backlash pulse the aggression while appealing to began with the occupation and annexa- the enforcement of rules of international tion of Crimea followed by the full order, and needs assistance in re-estab- military invasion of eastern Ukraine. lishing and maintaining a just peace in We were gratified that most of the this volatile situation. We mourn our Member States of the United Nations fallen heroes, and the losses have supported Ukraine with a vote on touched our inner circle—Markian March 27 2014 rejecting the Russia- Paslawsky, “Franko,” who died on Au- orchestrated referendum, refusing to gust 19, 2014, at the eastern Ukrainian recognize the annexation of Crimea to front near Donetsk, is the cousin of our this day. UN WFUWO representative Dr. Larysa Dyrszka. We also express our solidarity March 27 was an important day at the with mothers of all of the troops from all United Nations for Ukrainians for sides involved in the conflict and with also another reason. On the occasion Ukraine’s women, not least the women of International Mother Language of the Crimean Tatar community, who Day, the Ukrainian community, to- are being affected in a myriad of ways gether with Ukraine’s Permanent Mis- as of yet untold.

2 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 At our last Annual Meeting of the also discussed the effects and implica- WFUWO held in Paris in July 2014, tions of the virulent disinformation delegates from nine countries of the being circulated through social media as Ukrainian diaspora met over a wide part of the newly expanded “information range of global concerns. We celebrated wars” arena. We are deeply concerned the renewal of our WFUWO representa- about Ukraine’s future. tion to UN/Geneva and we heard reports about the status of Ukrainian migrant We bring you this special United Na- women and generations of women of tions issue of our quarterly journal, Ukrainian heritage living in various Ukrainian Women in the World, to re- countries of our diaspora. And while we view some of the ground we cover as a resolved to do whatever we could to bol- federation of women’s organizations ster Ukrainian aspirations for democ- and to share our aspirations as a dias- racy, freedom and peaceful security, we poran women’s community.

Established in 1948 in the United States, in Philadelphia, by ten women’s organizations, the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations (WFUWO), now based in Toronto, Canada, unites 29 organizations from 18 countries on four continents. Representing a spectrum of women’s organizations pursuing civic, religious, cultural, educational, immigration, and humanitarian goals, WFUWO reflects the activity of local Ukrainian communities worldwide, as well as inter- national networking through a relationship with the United Nations. WFUWO is an NGO in consultative status with UN/ECOSOC (1993), accredited with UNDPI (1990), and a member of the NGO Commit- tee on UNICEF (1997). At the core of WFUWO’s mission is support for the dignity and integrity of women in Ukraine and Ukrainian women in émigré communities by supporting adherence to interna- tional standards of human rights, raising public awareness of prob- lems and violations, maintaining Ukrainian language and culture, cultivating awareness of Ukrainian history, family and social tradi- tions, as well as efforts that support modern Ukraine’s development into an independent, stable democracy with respect for rule of law.

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 3 WFUWO UNITED NATIONS REPRESENTATIVES IN NEW YORK CITY At United Nations Headquarters in representatives to ECOSOC. Irene New York City, WFUWO’s NGO rep- Jarosewich is WFUWO’s Main Rep- resentation is headed by Dr. Martha resentative to UN DPI, with Natalia Kichorowska Kebalo, as of January Sonevytsky and Moki Kokoris as addi- 2013, the Main Representative to tional representatives, recently joined UN/ECOSOC. Nadia Shmigel, Dr. by Mariya Soroka and Viktoriia Larysa Dyrszka, Sofika Zielyk and Brezheniuk as UN DPI Youth Repre- Tamara Parubchenko are additional sentatives.

UN/ECOSOC REPRESENTATION

ing the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, the Women’s As- sociation of the Organization for the Defense of Four Freedoms for Ukraine and the United Ukrainian Orthodox Sisterhoods of the USA, among others.

Our WFUWO UN/ECOSOC represen- tatives are active members of several UN NGO Committees: Nadia Shmigel is a former co-chair of the NGO Com- mittee on the Family-NY, Martha Ki- chorowska Kebalo is the Treasurer for DR. MARTHA KICHOROWSKA the NGO Committee on Sustainable KEBALO Development-NY; Tamara Parubchenko represents WFUWO on the NGO Com- Dr. Martha Kichorowska Kebalo, is the mittee on UNICEF, and our esteemed Main Representative to the United Na- colleague and close partner, Iryna tions Economic and Social Council Kurowyckyj, is the former co-chair of (UN/ECOSOC) in New York City since the NGO CSD and currently Main Rep- January 2013, and has been among resentative to UN/ECOSOC for the In- WFUWO’s representatives to ternational Council of Women. UN/ECOSOC since 2002. Ultimately our WFUWO goals align The members of our UN NGO repre- with those of our counterpart NGOs sentation are members of a diverse active at the United Nations: Women: group of diaspora organizations includ- globally equal, happy and secure.

4 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 As participants in the global women’s State. The aggression has escalated into movement, WFUWO seeks to promote an undeclared war. WFUWO supports and monitor women’s (cultural, na- Ukrainian state sovereignty and the na- tional, and human) rights both within tion’s consistent efforts and progress Ukraine and in the Ukrainian diaspora. towards achieving prosperity, effective At the WFUWO annual meeting dur- democracy and social justice for all of ing the summer of 2014, our member Ukraine’s citizens. We unequivocally organizations, all from diaspora organ- support Ukraine’s defense of its own izations, reported about the status of territorial integrity and future viability, Ukrainian women—both established even as we look to the fundamental val- citizens and more recent immigrants— ues of the United Nations to envision a in their respective countries. And in peaceful solution. our involvement at the United Nations, WFUWO strives to facilitate the kind Since the early 1990s, our WFUWO of input that articulates Ukraine’s NGO representation to the UN has co- needs, the needs of Ukraine’s migrants, operated with the Permanent Mission of and needs of Ukrainian women who Ukraine to the United Nations, which have chosen to reside outside of plays a critical role in representing the Ukraine. Our purpose is to position position of the Ukrainian people. Our women identified with Ukraine—from working relationship with the Perma- academic, business, political and cre- nent Mission helps us better address is- ative circles—as contributors to the sues affecting Ukraine’s women and process of the global movement for all Ukrainian women in the world beyond women. Ukraine. The Permanent Mission partic- ipates in the work of all six United Na- As representatives of our world federa- tions Committees and ensures the tion to UN/ECOSOC, we focus on the inclusion of Ukraine’s views and needs Ukrainian segment of the world’s fe- in UN resolutions. Thanks to the efforts male population, and use measures of of the Permanent Mission, Ukraine is their status as an indicator of how the currently a candidate for election to the women of the world are doing in gen- UN Security Council for 2016-2017. eral. Since their country’s independ- ence in 1991, Ukraine’s women have WFUFO works across the UN plat- experienced the kind of economic and form in New York and Geneva to track social changes and challenges—domes- developments around the needs of tic instability, sex trafficking, labor mi- Ukraine-identified women, both in gration, employment inequality—that terms of global assessments of are areas of global concern deliberated women’s status and in terms of the and addressed by the United Nations. deep trauma experienced throughout Most recently, Ukraine has experienced Ukraine as a result of current events, in a breach of international law and inva- particular the unique burdens carried sion by a United Nations Member by Ukraine’s women.

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 5 UN DPI REPRESENTATION

partment of Public Information (DPI). The promotion of these ideals can be accomplished through the use of tradi- tional media, electronic and social media, involvement in UN programs such as Blue Heart Campaign and 16 Days, as well as through panels and special events. WFUWO and WFUWO’s representation at the United Nations have actively pursued all outlets to promote the work of the UN in general, and in particular, as it relates to the problems and betterment of women in Ukraine and Ukrainian IRENE JAROSEWICH women worldwide.

Since 2009, Irene Jarosewich has The past year, beginning with Euro- been a UN NGO representative from Maidan in November 2013, has been the World Federation of Ukrainian particularly active as WFUWO fo- Women’s Organizations and since cuses world attention on the illegal in- 2012, the Main Representative to the vasion of Ukraine, the occupation of United Nations Department of Public the Crimean peninsula by Russian Information (UN DPI). She is joined forces and the ensuing economic and by two other members of the WFUWO social crises for millions of Ukraine’s UN DPI representation – Natalia citizens. WFUWO has issued appeals Sonevytsky, who represents WFUWO on behalf Ukrainian orphans illegally at the UN DPI briefings held weekly transported to Russia, in protest of the and Moki Kokoris, who closely fol- human rights abuses of captured lows issues related to the rights of in- Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko, digenous peoples. Also two UN DPI clarifications of the improper presen- Youth Representatives were added this tation of information by the UN year: Maria Soroka and Viktoriia Human Rights Council with regard to Brezheniuk. Crimea, and numerous statements of support of actions by the present gov- NGO representation at the United Na- ernment of Ukraine to end the conflict, tions follows two major paths: work as well as in support of international on UN NGO committees to promote sanctions against, and UN General As- UN goals through the Economic and sembly condemnation of, the govern- Social Council (ECOSOC) and pro- ment of Russia and the policies of its motion of UN ideals through the De- President Vladimir Putin.

6 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 In the event of any war or armed con- UN DPI YOUTH flict, among the first to suffer are those REPRESENTATIVES (2014-2015) who are the most defenseless: women, children and the elderly. The current crisis in Ukraine is no exception. Ac- cording to the Office of the UN Com- missioner for Human Rights and the International Displacement Monitoring Center, the number of internally dis- placed persons in Ukraine since the crisis began is at least 430,000 as of October 2014, with estimates that fig- ures could be three times that high since people are reluctant to report MARIYA SOROKA themselves as displaced or to seek help. Mariya Soroka became a founder of the activist network Razom for Ukraine Besides the IDPs, several million peo- in the late fall of 2013. She serves as ple have been thrown abruptly into its public and community relations liai- poverty, their homes, businesses, son. She participated as an expert on schools destroyed or occupied, govern- grassroots organizing through social ment services stopped. media for our WFUWO-organized workshop presented during the 65th The humanitarian disaster in Ukraine Annual UN DPI NGO conference on that affects women disproportionately August 28, 2014. and the destructive international precedent that one UN Member State Mariya was also a speaker for the in- that is signatory to numerous multi teractive forum “Awakening of Civil and bi-lateral agreements in support Society in the Midst of Ukrainian Rev- of territorial integrity and national olution of Freedom” at the Permanent sovereignty can suddenly arbitrarily Mission of Ukraine to the UN on Au- choose to violate these agreements gust 26, 2014. and invade a neighboring country is not only a threat to the country that was invaded, but a threat to world stability.

WFUWO will continue to emphasize the importance of adhering to interna- tional norms as we strive for the UN goal that we all may live in a more hu- mane and civilized world.

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 7 and maintained DPI/NGO associated databases. Viktoriia also serves as an International Liaison for the United Nations Youth Representative Execu- tive Board.

Viktoriia Brezheniuk was instrumental in the welcoming of Ukraine’s Perma- nent Representative to the United Na- tions Amb, Yuriy Sergeyev, to Lehigh University on November 18, 2014.

VIKTORIIA BREZHENIUK Ambassador Sergeyev shared his vi- sion of the current events in Ukraine Viktoriia Brezheniuk is completing a with over 70 students, staff, faculty graduate degree in International Edu- and representatives of the Ukrainian cation at Lehigh University, Bethle- community from Lehigh Valley. His hem, Pennsylvania. She served as an remarks included the annexation of the intern at the United Nations Depart- Crimea, the violation of the Budapest ment of Public Information (NGO Di- Memorandum, the power of Russian vision) from May through August 2014. propaganda, and the position of the West in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. During her internship, Viktoriia ac- (Photo below) tively participated in the planning of the 65th Annual UN DPI NGO Confer- ence of August 2014. She coordinated volunteers, note-takers and inter- preters, and assisted with the confer- ence reception and exhibits. Viktoriia independently planned and moderated a pre-conference side event, an Inter- active Forum “Awakening of Civil So- ciety in the Midst of Ukrainian Revolution of Freedom” in the Perma- nent Mission of Ukraine to the UN.

In addition to conference planning, Viktoriia prepared briefing packages for DPI NGO briefings, and was re- sponsible for briefing summary content of the DPI Outreach website. She man- aged the DPI NGO Resource Center

8 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 A BRIEF HISTORY OF WFUWO REPRESENTATION AT THE UNITED NATIONS

In 1948 in Philadelphia, a world con- UN/ECOSOC in 1974. Women from gress of Ukrainian women formalized the Ukrainian diaspora participated in the WFUWO network of women’s or- the landmark UN World Conferences ganizations in the diaspora. Their com- on Women in Mexico City in 1975, mon mission specifically was to and subsequent World Conferences in defend the rights and well-being of Copenhagen in 1980, and in Nairobi in Ukrainian women, including through 1985, during which WFUWO strongly representation in international organi- advocated for their sisters in the then- zations, and in general, advocate for Soviet Ukraine. Their interventions Ukraine’s independence from the So- were a prototype of the now accepted viet Union. Prior to World War II, tactic of “shadow reporting,” an ac- Ukrainian women activists had already cepted and key practice of the become active within the International CEDAW country review process. The Council of Women, the International Ukrainian women provided reports al- Women’s League for Peace and Free- ternative to the official reports of the dom and other women’s organizations Soviet government that glossed over in Europe, Australia, North and South the genuine condition of women in America. Having had experience with Ukraine and the abuse suffered by dis- the League of Nations, the WFUWO in senting national and religious minori- 1949 looked with hope to the United ties. We remember Olena Prociuk, Nations. Dora Rak, Christine Nawrocky and Jaroslava Rubel working in New York As WFUWO approaches its 70th an- City and Zoya Nyzhankiwska repre- niversary, we can speak of several gen- senting WFUWO in Geneva, and we erations of women activists who honor them for their efforts. carried a Ukrainian perspective to the United Nations. Many outstanding As an NGO accredited with UNDPI women took a keen interest in engag- since 1990 and in consultative status ing with the United Nations on behalf with UN/ECOSOC since 1993, the of the WFUWO for 30 years, even be- WFUWO has engaged in the common fore official accreditation in the 1990s. work of NGOs at the United Nations. In the 1950s, the federation revived In 1990, Lidia Hladky of New Jersey pre-war connections with both the In- became WFUWO’s first chair of inter- ternational Alliance of Women (1955) national relations with respect to the and the International Council of UN. In 1992, Olya Stawnychy became Women. They joined the International WFUWO’s first Main Representative Movement of Mothers and Olena to UNDPI under WFUWO President Prociuk, a WFUWO member, was Maria Kwitkowsky. Together with invited to represent the MMM at Iryna Kurowyckyj (then a former

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 9 UNWLA President and President of butions was the spearheading, together the National Council of Women of the with WFUWO representative Hanya USA) and assisted by Marta Stepaniak Krill, of a massive anti-trafficking Kokolsky, the WFUWO attained con- campaign. sultative status with UN/ECOSOC. WFUWO was represented at the his- Nadia Shmigel served as Main Repre- toric Fourth World Women’s Confer- sentative to UN/ECOSOC from 2002 ence in Beijing in 1995, led by to 2012. Over the decade of her leader- WFUWO President Oksana Sokolyk. ship, our group gelled in cooperation, The highlight of Olya Stawnychy’s diversified its interests and deepened tenure as Main Representative to its potential to work within the priori- UN/ECOSOC from 1993-2002 was the ties of the United Nations in the inter- re-establishment of direct contacts with est of both Ukraine and the diaspora. a growing non-government sphere of We thank Nadia Shmigel for the bene- women’s initiatives in newly independ- fit of her broad shoulders and for her ent Ukraine. Among her lasting contri- continuous mentorship.

WFUWO at the UN Security Council in March 2014: Marta Kokolsky, Sofika Zielyk, Iryna Kurowyckyj (ICW), Natalia Sonevytsky, Daria Dykyj, Nadia Shmigel, Martha Kebalo and Marianna Zajac (Pres UNWLA)

10 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 WFUWO NGO REPRESENTATION IN GENEVA RENEWED

ciety of Ukrainians in Switzerland to serve a permanent community. During the 1960s-1970s, several women mem- bers of this Society formed a Ukrainian Women’s Association and Zoja Nyzhankiwska was elected head. The Ukrainian Women’s Association organ- ized events to promote Ukrainian art and music, and took an interest in the political life of women’s advocacy, as OLEKSANDRA KUNOVSKA well. In 1994, after WFUWO was ac- MONDOUX credited with UN/ECOSOC in New York (1993), Nyzhankiwska assumed In 2014, Oleksandra Kunovska Mondoux the responsibility of representing became WFUWO’s new Main Represen- WFUWO at UN/Geneva. tative at the UN/Geneva, renewing a po- sition held earlier by Zoja Nyzhankiwska Nyzhankiwska became a member of (1993-2002). Kunovska Mondoux is the NGO Committee on the Status of completing a PhD in World History at Women in Geneva and was a delegate the University of Fribourg in Switzerland to the International Labor Organiza- and is a graduate of the Ukrainian tion. She participated in numerous UN Catholic University in Lviv, Ukraine. Be- conference and assemblies, making sides English and native Ukrainian, she Ukraine-related interventions when ap- is fluent in Russian, French and German. propriate, regarding the exploitation of She lives in Geneva and is a member of women, education and professional the Society of Ukrainians of Switzerland growth of women, in particular related and a member of the Union of Ukrainian to the implications of the Chornobyl Women of France. tragedy. Eventually, when Nyzhanki- wska ceased her activities as WFUWO A Ukrainian émigré community Representative to UN/Geneva, the emerged in Switzerland at the end of the women’s association also lapsed, and 19th century when intellectuals such as the remainder of its members consoli- Mykhailo Drahomanov, Mykhailo dated with the Society of Ukrainians in Pavlyk, Mykola Ziber, Serhij Podolyn- Switzerland. sky, Evhen Bachynskyj and others made Geneva their temporary home. The role of women in the world and in After World War II, political changes Ukraine has changed significantly as lead to the founding of an organized So- we have entered into the 21st century.

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 11 Recent events in Ukraine have confirmed the urgency of cultivat- ing Ukrainian diplomacy at all levels. Since my designation in May 2014 as WFUWO Main Representative at the UN in Geneva, I have become a member of the UN NGO Committee on the Status of Women and am fol- lowing the meetings of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights and the Human O. Kunovska Mondoux, Z. Nyzhankiwska Rights Council. (right), Geneva, spring 2014.

12 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 WATCHING OUT FOR UKRAINE AS WFUWO PREPARES FOR BEIJING+20 BEIJING+20 AND THE POST-2015 the targets for eight common develop- SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS ment goals, the UN community is also debating approaches and solu- 2015 will be a double header. tions during the next 15 years to ex- panding global problems. A new set One milestone is the 20th anniversary of goals is being formulated under the of the Beijing Declaration and Plat- rubric “post-2015 Sustainable Devel- form of Action, which expresses opment Goals” in recognition of the commitments made at the Fourth fact that today’s efforts must be effec- World Conference on Women in Bei- tive and maintained into the future. jing, China, in 1995 and represents the most comprehensive global pol- The two milestones are very much re- icy framework to date for the lated. There will be no sustainable de- achievement of gender equality, de- velopment without women being velopment and peace worldwide. UN involved as planners and beneficiaries. Women - as the United Nations entity created by the General Assembly in Within UN ECOSOC, a global review July 2010 to address women’s equal- has begun to evaluate the progress ity and women’s empowerment made for women under the heading of throughout the UN structure - Beijing + 20. This review will be con- launched the Beijing+20 Campaign ducted at various levels: comprehen- in New York City in June 2014 sive national level reviews to be taken (WFUWO Reps Martha Ki- up by the Member States regarding chorowska Kebalo and Sofika Zielyk progress made and challenges faced attended). The campaign both com- in their respective countries; regional memorates Beijing 1995 and aims to reviews to be conducted in five UN heighten public awareness of the im- regional commissions (one of these is portance of assessing how the prom- the UN Economic Commission of Eu- ises of Beijing have been rope which held its review in Geneva implemented and what roadblocks in November 6-7, 2014, and pub- exist to their fulfillment. lished results still pending); and on a global level at the 59th Commission The second milestone is the 2015 tar- on the Status of Women in March of get date for the achievement of the 2015. All interested parties, referred Millennium Development Goals to as relevant stakeholders, including (MDGs) adopted by the countries of NGOs and women’s organizations es- the world in 2000. In assessing the pecially, are called upon to collabo- success of how well each country met rate in the 2015 review.

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 13 WFUWO and Ukraine’s Delegation to the UN ECE Beijing+20 Review in Geneva The UN NGO Committee on the Status cern for women (Poverty, Education of Women (CSW) in Geneva organized and Training; Health; Violence against and hosted an NGO Forum November Women, Women and Armed Conflict; 3-5, 2014, which immediately pre- Economy; Power and Decision-mak- ceded the United Nations Economic ing; Advancement of Women; Human Commission of Europe (UN ECE) Rights of Women, Women and the conference November 6-7. On the Media, Women and the Environment, agenda for the UN ECE was the re- the Girl Child) and four emerging is- view of the implementation of the Bei- sues (Human Rights and Migrant jing Platform for Action 1995 at its Women, Science, Technology and In- 20-year mark (2015). novation for the Advancement of Women, Older Women and Men, as Over this year 2014, Ukraine has sub- well as Boys for Gender Equality). mitted two important reports: its Eighth Periodic Report to the Commis- Reports from WFUWO’s UN/Geneva sion on the Elimination of all Forms of representative, Oleksandra Kunovska Discrimination against Women and a Mondoux, note that close to 700 dele- national review of the implementation gates representing 350 NGOs from 56 of the Beijing platform in Ukraine in countries convened in Geneva for the preparation for the Beijing+20 review UN ECE Beijing+ 20 review. The offi- process. Ukraine, and many the coun- cial Ukrainian delegation included: tries that are home to the Ukrainian di- Minister of Social Policy Liudmila aspora (North America, Western Denisova and Larysa Kobelianska, the Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central Minister’s advisor on gender issues. Asia) are included in the region em- Also NGO delegates Kateryna braced by the UN ECE. Levchenko of LaStrada-Ukraine, and Meliya Assanova of Crimea, represent- The NGO Forum program of Novem- ing the NGO “Independent Life” As- ber 3-5 focused on the points of the sistance Center for People with Beijing Platform that focus on women. Disabilities. Sixteen thematic roundtables were arranged that corresponded to the Bei- Minister of Social Policy Liudmila jing Platform’s 12 critical areas of con- Denisova reportedly spoke frankly

14 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 about the conflict in Ukraine and its manitarian assistance to the trauma- toll on the population, not least on the tized and injured. All the while, they extremely high number of internally want to establish a peaceful future. The displaced persons (IDPs), among Minister maintained that Ukraine must whom women and children predomi- continue to encourage women to fully nate. Women both support Ukraine’s embrace leadership and responsibility defense efforts and are providing hu- in decision making, and policy setting.

NGO Forum Round Table on Women and Media at the Geneva UN ECE Review Conference Beijing+20

society. After 1991, (and espe- cially after the Orange Revolu- tion), the media, became more pluralistic, but not yet really in- dependent. Since November 2013, several factors have been escalating the conflict in Ukraine, and media is a key driver. The lack of impartial in- formation, the misuse of termi- nology, and oversimplified and Presentation by indeed binary interpretation Oleksandra Kunovska Mondoux (pro-Ukrainian, pro-Russian) of events has fuelled a divisive narrative and mil- Thank you for inviting me to speak at itarism across the country. Multi-polar this distinguished Forum. I am pleased information wars are confusing the and honored to participate in this dis- public. This new “mode of warfare, in cussion of Women and the Media. I which goals and actors are undeclared”, would like to discuss the Beijing Ac- is a powerful weapon that is every bit tion Plan in relation to women’s role in as powerful as armed combat. the recent events in Ukraine and their portrayal in the media. In this “undeclared war,” traditional forms of communication, that once The media shapes politics and society. produced anti-Ukrainian propaganda, It has the power to affect human behav- particularly television, which is a ior and thought. In the earlier Soviet major source of information for most decades, the print media, television and Ukrainians, were undermined by new radio broadcasting were successfully media technologies. Alternative news used by the regime in Ukraine to spread channels, such as Hromadske.tv, propaganda and create false images of Espreso.tv and “Ukraine Today” were

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 15 launched on the internet to provide an gunners fought alongside the men of unbiased objective source of informa- the voluntary battalions in the Anti-Ter- tion to counter the propaganda of chan- rorist operation in eastern Ukraine and nels such as “Russia Today.” Also were subjected to hostile rhetoric, notably, the “Ukrainian Revolution of goading them to return to the “kitchen”. Dignity and Freedom” that started on the Maidan was mobilized and coordi- Much of the national media stereotypi- nated by social media that is Facebook cally emphasized women’s beauty in and Twitter. contrast to military action and in dis- connection with protest action, subordi- The Maidan protests turned violent, nating women to the men who were although they had started as the peace- naturally portrayed as “hero” and “de- ful expression of civil society organi- fender”. But some media coverage zations and individuals of different showed women as active fighters of backgrounds and motivations, all as- their rights, shifting the traditional view piring for democracy and substantive of gender roles. The conflict in Ukraine changes in Ukraine. Half of the helped a stronger sense of female self- Maidan protesters (around 47%), were esteem emerge, empowering women to Ukrainian women of different genera- agency and creativity and reform- tions, and in some respects their new minded projects—as reflected in a values were felt. But there continued to video exploring the role of “women of be ambiguous images in the media the Maidian” and a photo exhibition of space. Therefore, it is particularly im- the “Women Faces of Maidan”. portant for the media to recognize women as active agents of the Maidan The need for change in Ukraine’s gen- and in current Ukrainian politics. der culture was also underscored by the role models provided by political actors During the Maidan protests, women re- such as Ruslana Lyszychko, Lesya ceived the special attention of the na- Orobets, Olga Bogomolets, Tetiana tional and international media. Tchornovol, who appeared regularly in Primarily, women were portrayed play- the media. However, their example was ing their traditional roles as helpers, not enough to transform societal atti- providing legal, medical, and humani- tudes. The stereotyping and traditional tarian assistance to soldiers and those roles persist, bolstered by inappropriate internally displaced by the conflict remarks by high political figures, and (IDPs). However, many women were fuelled by public sphere inequalities also active in manning the barricades that limit women’s access to expression and taking self-defense courses. Along- via the media. Women are continuously side the men, women organized them- underrepresented in the media and selves into a female squadron to show often appear in a negative or provoca- that women don’t just make sand- tive form. There are even blatantly sex- wiches. Moreover, women snipers and ualized representations of women in a

16 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 series of images released recently for tion of this and provides no gender- TV by an anonymous artist propagating based statistics on the use of new so- military action. cial media in Ukraine today.

Images of women in the media was the The difficulties in implementing the subject of much attention by NGOs, Beijing Platform for Action lie in the international and educational institu- lack of effective legislation. The Law of tions after 1991 and especially after Ukraine adopted in 2005 ensures equal 2004 when civil society organizations rights and opportunities for both women focusing on women’s rights flourished and men including equal media access. in Ukraine. It is interesting to note that The State programmes outlined for the the Ukrainian group Femen protesting periods to 2010 and now to 2016 in- topless with a lot of attention in inter- clude the need to raise awareness of national media, played invisible role in gender discrimination in the media, but Ukraine and was not taken seriously many state institutions fail to address for many reasons, because there are this concretely and remain unresponsive many other Ukrainian women’s groups to gender stereotyping in the media. Ac- working through perhaps more “boring cording to the National Report of April means” for gender equality—such as 2014, media coverage frequently re- the Women’s Information Consultation veals the incompetence of Ukraine’s Centre, Ukrainian Women’s Fund, La journalists on gender issues. The simple Strada-Ukraine. monitoring of media content, for exam- ple of sexism in advertising, is alone in- The recent crisis demonstrated that sufficient if gender equality is not a true there is an active citizen position and priority of Government. volunteerism in Ukraine, one that is ready to battle half-truths through I would like to propose the following new technologies. A new generation recommendations for improvement the of civic activists, led by women, are situation of women in the media: using powerful global social networks to support the people of Ukraine. To develop effective legislation and These social networks of Facebook or gender policy for media by: Twitter gathered and shared informa- - Strengthening the national gender tion, provided evidence, coordinated mechanisms by involving civil society efforts, and mobilized supporters - experts. The Facebook groups of Euromaidan, - Establishing regulatory mechanisms Razom for Ukraine, Half of the for monitoring and measuring gender Maidan: Women’s Voice of Protest discrimination in the media. proved the high participation of - Providing codes of conduct to ensure Ukrainian women activists world- correct and varied portrayal of women wide. Ukraine’s National report of in media. April 2014 however makes no men- - Increasing the funding of gender

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 17 analysis and research on women in - Strengthening women visibility and media. freedom of expression in the media. - Encouraging greater participation of To improve education and training by: young, older and vulnerable women on - Raising awareness of the BPfA. social issues. - Promoting women’s leadership - Ensuring visibility of successful through the sharing of experiences of women leaders that balance effectively women politicians, business and social work/family spheres. workers, etc. - Increasing a number of TV pro- - Providing a series of gender work- grammes made by women and for shops for the public, media specialists women. and computer scientists. - Involving women to media produc- - Promoting new forms of communi- tion and decision-making in media. cation to spread information about women. To maintain State-civil society partner- - Educating older women (especially ship and networking by: in Eastern Ukraine) to use electronic - Ensuring cooperation and reinforc- sources for discussion of women’s is- ing national dialogue on women issues. sues via internet. - Empowering women civil society of advising how to advance gender equal- To combat gender stereotypes by: ity in media. - Identifying strategic priorities for - Ensuring regular consultations with transformation of women’s media por- women’s organizations to integrate trayals. gender viewpoint into media policy. - Gathering and analysing of gender- - Improving coordination among vari- disaggregated information to develop ous gender equality structures at na- clear, comprehensive and consistent tional and local levels. messages to the media. - Developing thematic networks and - Developing positive representations share international experience with for empowerment of women. women in the world. - Properly addressing women’s indi- - Creating group of civil society repre- viduality (not as subordinates or sexual sentatives, international experts, aca- objects). demics and the media to develop new - Replacing traditional gender stereo- vision of women in the Ukrainian types with new female role models. media today. - Showing individual heroism and pa- triotism of ordinary women. I hope that further advancement in the implementation of Beijing Declaration To confirm women’s right to freedom will ensure gender equality in the media, of expression by: freedom of expression and decent por- - Listening to women voice their trayal of women in this period of change everyday needs. in Ukraine. Thank you for your attention.

18 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 LOOKING AHEAD: 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE NOVEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 10 GENDER VIOLENCE IN THE Women, and we continue to follow and CONTEXT OF MILITARISM react to these developments. On De- cember 6, 2014, in New York City, We, the WFUWO member organiza- WFUWO partnered with the New York tions, are aware of recent reports of area chapters of Ukrainian National gender violence emerging from the Women’s League of America, a zones of conflict in Ukraine. Recent WFUWO member organization, to or- newscasts have highlighted misogy- ganize a roundtable to explore the con- nistic statements and actions to im- nections between the Russian invasion pose limits on women’s personal and of Ukraine and increased gender vio- professional choices. Even more trou- lence. This event was part of the “16 bling are the reports of young women Days of Activism against Gender Vio- being abducted, drugged and used for lence,” a global campaign initiated in sexual services by the Russian-sup- 1991 by the Center for Women’s ported terrorist groups. WFUWO is Global Leadership, and in which currently working on researching the Ukraine has participated since 2000. sources of these reports in order to formulate an accurate response.

WFUWO’s position is that much of the anti-fe- male discourse is bol- stered by an imposition of Putin’s ideology of The Russian World or “Russkyj Mir,” which promotes a conservative worldview of gender stereotypes and female subordination. WFUWO reported on the Russian- funded war on gender last year to the Commis- sion on the Status of

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 19 59TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN 2015

As in recent years, WFUWO once will serve to ensure that gender equal- again plans to participate actively in ity and women’s rights are the focus the UN Commission on the Status of and the very heart of the discussions, Women, to be held March 9-20, 2015 strategies and negotiations. at the UN in New York City. The 59th Session of the CSW will be dedicated We concur with the overarching con- to the review of the implementation of cern that global poverty be reduced, the Beijing Declaration and Platform since poverty affects women inti- for Action. Below is the WFUWO mately, leads to their disempowerment statement submitted on October 24, and heightens their exposure to vio- 2014. lence of all kinds. While there has been notable progress for women, power- STATEMENT TO THE FIFTY-NINTH sharing is an area that still needs much SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON improvement; and no problem seems more urgent than the unabated violence THE STATUS OF WOMEN that affects women and girls of all ages SUBMITTED BY THE WORLD in all countries of the world. Violations FEDERATION OF UKRAINIAN of women’s human rights continue WOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONS with impunity and without the victims’ recourse to protection in much of the At this historic juncture in 2015, on the world. 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, As a world federation of women’s or- and on the eve of the assessment of the ganizations identifying with the com- Millennium Development Goals and mon denominator of our Ukrainian their re-framing as Sustainable Devel- heritage and working in countries opment Goals for post-2015, we sup- found throughout the region embraced port the United Nations Economic and by the UN Economic Commission for Social Council’s efforts to assess the Europe (ECE Region), we welcome progress that has been made towards the regional review process underway the implementation of the promises of in Geneva beginning in early Novem- Beijing. We also hope that the fifty- ber 2014. We urge women from states ninth session of the United Nations in this region, which includes Eastern Commission on the Status of Women Europe and the formerly Soviet re-

20 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 publics, to analyze and make public the Women were equal partners with men effects that the recent events in in the Maidan protests during the win- Ukraine have had on women there, in- ter of 2013-2014, and in the subse- cluding displacement, disruption of quent evolution of Ukraine’s work and education, impoverishment, Revolution of Dignity against corrup- and concurrent medical and social tion. Once the undeclared war began, problems. women became a minority among the troops engaged in active military com- The recent and ongoing conflict was bat. They are, however, a dispropor- initiated by the March 2014 illegal an- tionate majority of citizens displaced nexation of Ukrainian territory - the by the conflict. Women dominate Crimean Peninsula - by the Russian among those displaced from the war Federation, soon followed by military zone in eastern Ukraine. They are also invasion into the region of eastern a majority of those displaced from Ukraine by Russian Federation forces Crimea. with the intent of bolstering Russian- supported separatists. These actions One of the most tragic aspects of the served to inflame rather than defuse the ongoing crisis is the internal displace- conflict, which has not de-escalated. ment of Ukraine’s indigenous people, the Crimean Tatars, who opposed Rus- Military aggression against Ukraine sia’s invasion of the Crimean peninsula was preceded by a period of a social and the subsequent pseudo-referen- and cultural offensive conducted dum. They have fled from Russian per- through Russian-based and Russian secution in large numbers to the government owned and supported Ukrainian mainland. There must be of- media, available in many of Ukraine’s ficial acknowledgement of their status regions. Over the past two years, as forcibly displaced persons, as mem- Russia has waged a media war to derail bers of a forcibly displaced commu- Ukraine’s intentions of integrating with nity, and of the impact of this violence Western institutions. Through this cam- on their circumstances. paign, the Russian Federation portrays itself as a bastion of morality against In addition, throughout Ukraine, it is Western decadence and seeks to im- women—mothers and wives and chil- pose a redefinition of the economic, dren of soldiers—who bear the brunt political and social discourse, accord- of the aftermath of this conflict, caring ing to Russian gender politics. In par- for the injured and traumatized. Also, ticular, we note an attack on “gender” women in the Ukrainian diaspora through a massive disinformation worldwide are involved in significant media campaign, targeting Ukraine’s humanitarian activism to bring aid to civil society, especially its most prom- affected families and Ukraine’s health ising voices, namely those of organized care institutions that are stressed be- women. yond their capabilities.

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 21 There seems little room within this flict planning have resulted in a more war effort for discussion of how a so- positive future for their societies, we ciety can practice non-violent resist- strongly believe these examples ance to foreign aggression on one’s should be emulated. own soil. Despite a desire for peace and reconciliation, those loyal to the We urge the inclusion of Ukraine in Ukrainian state can only support every agenda focusing on women’s Ukraine’s right to defend its own global striving for equal rights. In addi- borders. Yet, on the 14th anniversary tion to promoting the participation of of the United Nations Security Coun- women in policy-making negotiations, cil’s adoption of resolution 1325 we advocate the continuation of efforts (2000), we continue to yearn for to strengthen civil society as a whole clear guidelines and measures conso- by fostering engagement with political nant with support for Women, Peace leadership so that there is accountabil- and Security. In knowing that there ity not only within the United Nations are areas of the world where the Security Council but also among all recognition of women’s strengths and national governments of United Na- the inclusion of women in post-con- tions Member States.

WFUWO and the NGO Committee on the Family - New York a long time member of the NGO Committee on the Family (New York): She recently served as Co-Chair of this committee and continues to attend Executive Committee Meetings in her Ex Officio status. She also remains an active member of several NGO Com- mittees—the NGO Committee on Age- ing, Subcommittee for Older Women; NGO Committee for Migration; NGO Committee on the Status of Women; NGO Committee on Sustainable De- velopment. NADIA SHMIGEL, LCSW Nadia Shmigel sees her role “as pro- Nadia Shmigel served as the WFUWO viding continuity to WFUWO's long Main Representative to UN/ECOSOC tradition of excellence in the work of from 2002-2012 laying foundations for the UN NGO community and collabo- the current work of the WFWUO UN ration on behalf of family policy. This representation team. Nadia Shmigel is consists of ongoing feedback shared

22 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 with Dr. Kebalo and the team of three years, Dr. Martha Kichorowska WFUWO representatives to ECOSOC Kebalo has played a major role in or- and UNDPI. It also springs from an ganizing these workshops and was rec- awareness of how important it is for a ognized for her excellent presentations. younger generation to get involved in the work of the UN and to support One of the past year’s highlights at the them in their advocacy work on local, UN was the celebration of the 20th an- regional, national and international niversary of the International Year of levels.” the Family, set as May 15th by the UN General Assembly in 1993 (resolution A/RES/47/237). Over the past 20 NGO COMMITTEE ON THE years, the Ukrainian community in FAMILY – NEW YORK New York City has celebrated this day through initiatives of the Ukrainian The member organizations of Congress Committee of America, and WFUWO have had a long engagement especially of the women’s organiza- with family and pro-family activism. tions (WFUWO members): the Ukrain- And the WFUWO as an NGO in con- ian National Women’s League of sultative status with ECOSOC and ac- America, Inc. (UNWLA), the Women’s credited by UNDPI has had a long Association for the Defense of the relationship with the NGO Committee Four Freedoms of Ukraine, the Ukrain- on the Family as well. The NGO Com- ian Gold Cross, and the United Ukrain- mittee on Family-NY takes up various ian Orthodox Sisterhoods of America. cross-cutting issues—such as migra- The NGO Committee on the Family tion, trafficking, poverty alleviation, was deeply involved in the prepara- development, equality of women and tions for the 20th Anniversary through men—some of which are also the its cooperation with the UN Focal focus of other separate NGO commit- Point on the Family (within UN- tees (NGO Committee on the Status of DESA). On the anniversary itself, on Women, NGO Committee on Migra- May 15th 2014, a report entitled “Fam- tion, NGO Committee on Sustainable ilies Matter for the Achievement of Development, NGO Committee on the Development Goals, International Year Rights of The Child). These NGO of the Family + 20” was presented in committees often cooperate and collab- the ECOSOC Chamber at New York orate with one another. As co-Chair of UN Headquarters. The WFUWO had the NGO Committee on the Family participated in the effort to compile in- (New York) I proposed several formation for this report, and our WFUWO co-sponsored thematic work- WFUWO representatives, Dr. Martha shops to be presented during the NGO Kichorowska Kebalo and Tamara Forum parallel to the meetings of the Parubchenko (President of the United state-members of the Commission on Ukrainian Orthodox Sisterhoods of the Status of Women. Over the past America), attended the UN cere-

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 23 monies. (See the Declaration of Civil bian and gay families were not yet on Society on the 20th Anniversary of the the radar, and racially mixed marriages International Year of the Family, at were rare. Many fundamental changes www.family2014.org/dipb.php and a in normative family patterns, structure discussion of family by the Commis- and conditions have taken place even sion on Social Development at over the past 20 years. Researchers tell www.family2014.org/seaf.php). us, however, that despite new flexible family arrangements, people still re- Overall, the 20th anniversary mark port, in survey after survey, that family also offered an opportunity to assess is at the center of their lives. progress made towards achieving by 2015 a set of eight UN Millennium Many of the changes that affect the Development Goals (MDGs) agreed family were caused by demographic upon by the world community in 2000, and political changes, by the economic and to start framing an agenda for the recession of 2008 and the effects of future which is called the Post-2015 globalization. These changes are espe- Sustainable Development Goals. The cially prominent in developed coun- various UN agencies and governments tries. In our traditional Ukrainian are currently engaging with civil soci- communities these changes do not ety (NGOs) in discussions on this new mesh well with the older generation’s set of SDGs. One of the major con- value system, but interviews with cerns is the continuing levels of grandparents suggest that the changes poverty and hunger worldwide, with are tolerated. For example, the elderly inequality increasing in both rich and will accept the co-habitation of young poor countries. Global statistics reveal couples prior to marriage simply be- that whereas 2.5% of the world’s peo- cause they don’t want to jeopardize the ple were in poverty in 1950, in 2012 relationship with their grandchildren. that percentage has risen to 7.1%. The UN post 2015 Climate Summit The NGO Committee on the Family (September 23, 2014) at the beginning supports policies that help families per- of the 69th session of the General As- form their most important functions re- sembly September 2014 heralds a new lated to the material and non-material spirit of transformation and hope. With care of family members, including the this comes the felt certainty that the elderly and sick/disabled, and espe- achievement of world peace, freedom cially the nurturing/socialization of and democracy will depend on coopera- children. Our own observations cer- tion and sharing rather than on competi- tainly tell us that there have been tion. We should think also of the hope major shifts in family composition in that inspired the EuroMaidan in the past half century and social statis- Ukraine and its transformative implica- tics confirm that. In the1950s there tions as a protest motivated by a desire were fewer single parent families, les- for democratic values, freedom, peace

24 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 and justice. We need to address the WFUWO at the UN question of how we, member organiza- NGO UNICEF - tions of WFUWO, can contribute to this process. Each of our federation’s Child Rights Committee member organizations functions within a different country with its own unique culture, values, and laws on family, about which we should become more knowledgeable about---for example, what services can families access as part of their human rights? WFUWO member organizations support families in Ukraine through many humanitarian projects (stipends for children's educa- tion, support for older women, medical equipment) that contribute towards Ukraine reaching targets of the MDGs. TAMARA PARUBCHENKO In Italy, the Association of Ukrainian Women Workers of Italy informs As of 2013, Tamara Parubchenko, Presi- Ukrainian migrant workers of their dent of the Ukrainian American Ortho- rights under Italian law; the Ukrainian dox Sisterhoods, has been the WFUWO National Women’s League of America representative to the NGO Committee on Inc. has among its many humanitarian Child Rights and as of June 2014, she projects also endowed a Lectureship in has taken on representation to the UN Women’s Studies at the Ukrainian NGO Committee on UNICEF, as well. Catholic University in Lviv, a major effort for women’s equality and human Tamara and several other members of rights. The WFUWO member organi- our WFUWO representation partici- zations cultivate family-based Ukrain- pated in a high level meeting of the ian identity and cultural traditions, and General Assembly on the 25th Anniver- they would do well to also organize sary of the Convention on the Rights of more inter-generational meetings in the Child on November 20, 2014. their communities to give the younger generation an opportunity to express On June 19, 2014, the UN NGO their needs. The world is changing rap- Committee on UNICEF held an idly, and there is great need for re- Agenda- Advocacy Meeting for search on women’s and family issues. Member Organizations. Arelys Bel- But above all we need to transform the lorini and Barbara Ammirati, Co- world into one that is cooperative Chairs of the NGO Committee on rather than competitive. We need to UNICEF, moderated different parts begin to ask what is in it for all of us of the meeting’s program, which fo- rather than what is in it for me. cused on the upcoming 25th An-

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 25 niversary of the Convention on the the Child (CRC). The meeting will Rights of the Child on November involve reports from UN member 20th 2014 and included updates on states, and a panel discussion fol- child rights campaigns, advocacy lowed by Q&A, which will be open updates, and presentations by two to pre-registered participants from keynote speakers, one from the NGO committees. UNICEF Division of Communica- tions, and the other from the NGO Gary Krieger spoke on behalf of SOS Children’s Villages. Paloma Escudero, Director of the UNICEF Division of Communica- Anna Tomasi, of Defence for Chil- tions, about the Global Advocacy dren International, reported on the Campaign, using social media to reach “Call for Global Study on Children out to the Millennial generation (age Deprived of Liberty,” a cross-cultural 15-34?). He said that the message study exploring how children’s rights needs to be both succinct and personal may or may not be supported in con- to get this young generation involved texts of migration or as residents in in social activism. various institutions. Using social media to share informa- This specific study is already sup- tion about the problem of violence ported by many civil group, govern- against children and using electronic ments and the UN, and they are petitions are two ways in which the actively gathering data for enhance- new technologies can help raise cam- ment of the Convention on the Rights paign effectiveness. of the Child. This meeting was most informative It is interesting that despite the im- and clear in its assertion that “Civil so- portance of this convention, the ciety must provide concise, concrete United States has not ratified, citing language for the upcoming Open reservations about its wording which Working Group negotiations for the might restrict or undermine parental post 2015 Agenda.” rights. Meg Gardinier talked about how to encourage US legislators to As Sofia Garcia emphasized, the vote for ratification, using all possi- wording of the goals and targets on ble personal and electronic media to sustainable development for post spread supporting information (see 2015 needs to be amended so that it Childrights.org). includes the word “children” in its provisions, so as to bring attention to Antonia Antonopoulos talked about the specific needs of the young for the planned celebration on November safety and protection from neglect, 20th 2014 of the 25th Anniversary of violence, abuse, and exploitation of the UN Convention of the Rights of all kinds.

26 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 ADVOCACY FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN UKRAINE

Below is a fragment from the June 12, 2013 document addressed to Mr. Patskan, head of the Parliamentary Committee for human rights, minori- ties, and international relations, Kyiv, Ukraine:

CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

Two government offices protect chil- dren rights. In May the parliamentary commissioner for human rights ap- DR. LARYSA DYRSZKA pointed a representative for children’s rights, nondiscrimination, and gender Larysa Melnyk Dyrszka, MD (pedi- equality. And in August 2011 the presi- atrics), Member of the Board of dent appointed an ombudsman for chil- Trustees, SUNY Sullivan County Com- dren under the presidential munity College, who in recent years administration. was the WFUWO Representative to the NGO Committee on Child Rights, wrote Education: Education is free and com- a position paper addressed to the pulsory, but not universal. The lack of Ukrainian Parliamentary committee schooling remains a significant prob- conducting hearings on human rights lem among the rural population and in Ukraine on June 12, 2013. Her re- within the Romani community. view of children’s rights issues in Ukraine shows us how pertinent the ef- Child Abuse: Children continue to be forts of UNICEF and the UN Commit- victims of violence and abuse. Accord- tee on Child Rights are to Ukraine. ing to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in the first nine months of 2012, 8,360 In addition, this summer, in 2014, Dr. minors were victims of crime; of that Dyrszka advised WFUWO on a letter number, 2,544 crimes were serious or to condemn the illegal transfer of chil- very serious, such as assault, robbery, dren from institutions in the eastern and murder. The ministry also recorded Ukrainian conflict zones into the Russ- 155 cases of sexual crimes against chil- ian Federation. Ukraine’s Parliamen- dren and 226 cases of corruption of mi- tary Ombudsman Valeria Lutkowska nors. Human rights groups noted low secured the return of the kidnapped capacity to detect and refer cases of vi- children, but their ultimate assignment olence against children and reported in safe territories of Ukraine was still that preventive services remained un- to be determined. derfunded and underdeveloped. There

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 27 were also instances of forced labor in- children with disabilities. Human volving children. rights groups and media report that lack of resources and government inac- Commercial sexual exploitation of tion created unsafe, inhumane, and children and human trafficking are a sometimes life-threatening conditions serious problem. Domestic and foreign in some institutions. law enforcement officials reported that a significant amount of the child In addition, the judicial system lacks pornography on the Internet continued expertise to work with minors, and the to originate in Ukraine. The Interna- legal process for juveniles emphasizes tional Organization for Migration punishment over rehabilitation. Sup- (IOM) reported that children from so- portive social services are often lack- cially disadvantaged families and those ing, and children in conflict with the in state custody continued to be at high law face bureaucratic and social barri- risk of being trafficked and exploited ers to reintegration. for commercial sex and the production of pornography. http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/hu- manrightsreport/#wrapper In a recent report the international NGO End Child Prostitution, Child http://www.state.gov/documents/orga- Pornography, and Trafficking of Chil- nization/192598.pdf pp353-355 dren for Sexual Purposes (EPCAT) noted that the country lacked a com- We recommend: prehensive approach to preventing commercial sexual exploitation and • Educational reforms to include espe- sexual abuse of children. In addition, cially rural children and minority pop- no policies combat the increasing prob- ulations lem of child sex tourism, and no gov- • Programs to prevent child abuse ernment programs assisted child • Increased child protection from sex- victims of sexual exploitation. ual exploitation, especially for those who are socially disadvantaged and in Institutionalized Children: The child state operated institutions care system continues to rely on long- • Improved compliance with anti-traf- term residential care for children at so- ficking measures cial risk or deprived of parental care. • Reforms of the child care system The system does not adequately ad- with emphasis on prevention of aban- dress the prevention of abandonment donment, and encourage reintegration or the reintegration of children with of children with their biological fami- their biological families. In 2010, ac- lies, as well as major reforms of insti- cording to UNICEF, more than 96,000 tutions housing children children lived in institutions, and more • Improved social services and judicial than 62,000 lived in institutions for system expertise regarding children.

28 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 UNDPI NGO CONFERENCE AUGUST 2014 media for spread- ing good infor- mation and for recruitment of potential social ac- tivists. While social media offers won- derful opportunities, there are also pitfalls that social movement NGOs and individual activists need to keep in mind. During the recent 65th Annual United Nations Department of Public Information NGO Conference, which was held at the New York UN Head- quarters August 27-29 2014, our WFUWO delivered an important NATALIA SONEVYTSKY workshop entitled “Social Media, Sur- veillance and Information Wars: Natalia Sonevytsky, a former research Egypt, Tunisia, and Ukraine.” The librarian, has been with our WFUWO workshop focused on the use of social UNDPI representation since 2008. One media (Facebook, Twitter, etc) in op- of her major commitments to our work positional movements in comparative is her regular attendance and report- contexts across societies that have re- ing out of the weekly UNDPI briefings. cently experienced popular pro-democ- ratic uprisings. The panel speakers The 65th Annual DPI NGO Conference explored the potential positive (effec- “2015 and Beyond: Our Action tive dissemination of information and Agenda” (August 27-29, 2014, at UN movement recruitment) as well as po- Headquarters, in New York City) pro- tential negative (official surveillance vided a forum for over 2000 civil soci- and harassment of movement partici- ety representatives from all over the pants, invasion of privacy) effects of world to share their vision of and pro- these new media, as well as the misuse vide their input towards the post-2015 of social media in blatant wars of dis- Development Agenda. information.

Information Wars and Social Media There is nothing new about informa- tion wars. In previous centuries, print The UN Department of Public Infor- media was successfully used by colo- mation (UNDPI) is very interested in nial and authoritarian regimes to the possibilities of the new social spread propaganda. Ukrainian history

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 29 bears this out as a long time pattern. Experiencing the United But new communication technology Nations: The UNDPI NGO has intensified the dynamics of these processes and opened up some new Conference in New York possibilities as well.

The recent Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity and struggle for freedom against a corrupt and repressive regime mobilized people to occupy Kyiv’s Maidan using a new form of social communication, the social media, espe- cially Face Book and Twitter. And use of social media has grown exponen- tially in Ukraine since November 2013, when the first wave of protest started.

Subsequent aggression by the Russ- NADIYA DANYLYSHYN ian Federation upon Ukraine’s terri- torial integrity (in the invasion and Nadia Danylyshyn, who is from annexation of Crimea and invasions Kolomya, Ukraine, worked in Munich of eastern Ukrainian oblasts) has before coming to the United States. been accompanied by a well-funded She is a new member of the Ukrainian and virulent disinformation cam- National Women’s League of America paign by pro-Russian agents using (Branch 64) and member of the the internet and social media. Friends of WFUWO network, a mem- Ukrainians are learning to counter ber of the UN NGO Committee on with a reaction to instances of disin- Sustainable Development, and a par- formation in order to promote trans- ticipant in WFUWO activities at the parency about the state of human United Nations. We registered Nadia rights in Ukraine. New media outlets for the UNDPI NGO Conference and (such as Hromadske.tv, Espreso.tv, she took in the entire spectrum of dis- and Ukraine Today all launched on cussions and workshops, from begin- the internet) and NGOs, many of ning to end. She submitted this report them initiated by women (such as to us as her impressions of her first Razom for Ukraine in New York, full UN conference. and Free Ukraine in Geneva) are using the power of global social net- On the days of 27th, 28th and 29th of works to support the people of August 2014, the United Nations De- Ukraine in their aspirations for true partment of Public Information self-determination and to promote (UNDPI) in Partnership with the Non- the maintenance of peace in Ukraine. governmental Organizations (NGO)

30 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 Community organized the 65th Annual Allow me first to take you with me on Conference. The theme of the confer- the journey I embarked upon, from the ence was “ 2015 and Beyond: Our Ac- opening ceremony onward. I was im- tion Agenda.” pressed by the meaningful statements I heard from so many significant partic- As a prospective member of the ipants, not least the Secretary-General WFUWO’s representation at the UN, I of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki- was privileged to join over 2000 other moon. He emphasized the long history NGOs representatives from around the of collaboration between the UN and world at this conference. New York civil society and urged us to continue City was home to this annual event for to participate in events such as this and 60 years before 2008 when it was to advocate for the support from the hosted in other parts of the globe with world leaders to help in the process of the intent of attracting new NGOs part- solving the global issues. While giving ners from the host country and neigh- the speech, he also mentioned that boring region. New York City mayor Bill de Blasio has him of his support of the UN’s The main goal of this year’s confer- agenda. ence was to discuss what issues will be included in the Post-2015 Agenda. Samantha Powers, the United States The conference program included a Ambassador to the United Nations, series of NGO workshops to encour- also gave an outstanding speech, prais- age interaction and sharing of ideas ing the UN’s efforts to relieve 600 mil- among colleagues, roundtable discus- lion people globally from extreme sions to share views and experiences poverty in 2000-2015 (the period of of experts, networking sessions to fa- time allotted to reaching the Millen- cilitate contacts with those who share nium Development Goals). She as- common interests and goals. Youth sured all the attendees that she fully representatives, non-governmental supports the civil society’s engagement organizations, and the United Na- and cooperation. Ambassador Powers tion’s representatives convened to- also pointed out the most disturbing is- gether to discuss and come up with sues that needed to be debated at the unique ways to address urgent issues conference, such as: treatment for HIV affecting the world today: poverty infection and AIDS, promoting human eradication, climate change, human rights, climate change, freedom from rights, partnerships and accountabil- violence, establishing proper institu- ity frameworks, and the sustainabil- tional infrastructure for tackling human ity of development. Each topic was needs, and most importantly, she made addressed by a panel of experts and a strong connection between peace and every session ended with an opportu- good governance. We think this ap- nity to ask questions and get some plies both within countries and in the answers. international arena.

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 31 To entertain and inspire us, the organ- public opinion and international sup- izers of the conference invited Mr. port, rapid dissemination of news, Lee Seung Chul, a South Korean widespread messaging and the ability singer to perfom a song, “The Bridge of individual to spread the information to the World”, which was meant to globally are relatively new phenomena connect everyone in the world in this during revolutions. Likewise, regimes time of crisis. Though, the song was and counter-insurgents can also imple- sung in Korean language, it was nev- ment social media to meet their own ertheless a heartfelt joy and warmth agendas in never before seen ways. The for the audience. future of revolutionary movement in the globalized society will involve so- The address made by Maryanne Dia- cial media is assured, but the degree of mond representing the International which it will, is yet to be determined. Disabilities Alliance is also worthy of special note. She explained that per- I was particularly struck by the contri- sons with disabilities still continue to bution of Mr. Yehia Zakaria Ghanem face barriers in education, communica- who was Managing Editor of the tion, healthcare, and transportation Egyptian newspaper “Al-Ahram.” He services. She started working with the presented to us some of the successes United Nations seven years ago in of social media in the revolutions of order to make disabled people and North Africa. He had been part of a their families feel an integral part of very successful project to train regular the civil society. housewives to become bloggers and grassroots journalists using social Being impressed by the first day of the media to network, to express their conference, I couldn’t wait for the sec- thoughts concerning injustice and un- ond day and the WFUWO’s workshop just acts on the part of the government. on “Social Media, Surveillance and In- Ms. Jennifer Preston, a reporter for the formation Wars: Egypt, Tunisia and New York Times covering the intersec- Ukraine.” The World Federation of tion of social media, politics, and gov- Ukrainian Women’s Organizations at ernment added her perspectives on the the United Nations (WFUWO) was the Arab Spring and also on the situation organizer of the event which also was in Ukraine. She saw how social media supported by several co-sponsors, helped ignite the revolution to bring among them the Ukrainian World Con- down the corrupt government. “We gress, the International Council of used Facebook to schedule the Women, Razom, the NGO Committee protest”, the Ukrainian activist, Mariya on Sustainable Development. The Soroka of Razom, acknowledged, “and workshop focused on the value of so- we used Twitter to coordinate and cial media for organizing and commu- YouTube to tell the world.” Social net- nicating during popular movements. works have broken the psychological The factors of social media affecting barrier of fear by helping many to con-

32 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 Workshop participants and organizers, left to right: Jennifer Preston (New York Times, reporting on Ukraine, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey), Victoria Baranetsky (First Amendment Fellow of the New York Times Company), Jeffrey Huffines (Co-Chair, UNDPI NGO Conference, who delivered a perspective on social media and popular movements from Northeast Asia), Martha K Kebalo (WFUWO Main Rep to UN), Andrij Dobriansky (Moderator, UWC Rep to UN), Mariya Soroka (co-founder and community relations/events manager for Razom), Viktoriia Brezheniuk (UNDPI Intern), Yehia Z Ghanem (former managing editor of Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper). nect, and share information. It has unfortunately the main problem we given most people in the world the face is that the developing countries knowledge that they are not alone, that have no technologies to stop the cli- there are others experiencing just as mate change that is already set in mo- much brutality, just as much hardships, tion. The problem is real and the just as much lack of justice. consequences are already surely going to affect all of us. On the last day of the conference I had a chance to take a part at the round- It was also terrifying to hear the reflec- table discussion for “Climate Justice in tions on the problem by the Permanent Practice.” In the words of Otu Uwem Representative of Palau to the United Robert of the African Youth Movement Nations H.E. Dr. Caleb Otto. He ad- “climate justice must have a human monished that no sustainable develop- face.” Many at the conference agreed ment can happen without taking that refugees from climate change climate change into account and the should be protected just as refugees least developed countries (LDCs) are from conflict are protected. Dr. O the most vulnerable. Ambassador Otto Uwem Robert also emphasized that explained how Palau, the Marshall Is-

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 33 lands and Suva Islands, and all Pacific sustainable living using the power of island nations, face a real threat from people. Her colleague, Mr. Ahmad Al- climate change. They can already see hendawi, a representative for “Youth the tides coming too high, and the is- for Democracy,” also underscored the lands are under threat of being com- issue of unemployment, pointing out pletely submerged. He is concerned that youth, who are the future of our that the people living on those islands world, are excluded on the pretence will have no place to go when the that they are still too immature to par- emergency starts. Thankfully, one ticipate in the decision-making country, New Zealand, is the first to processes. But they are often among offer permanent residence to those who those most affected by conflict, in will be in need. But Mr. Otto re- poverty and hunger. The three day minded us in conclusion that, “When it event ended with an equally encour- comes to the issue of our planet’s aging closing ceremony in which civil health, we are all stakeholders.” society was called upon to put aside all differences and produce a short, One more common theme throughout powerful declaration that would com- the conference was the link between pel governments worldwide to listen. human rights and development. Jane For me personally, the feeling of Stewart from the International Labor being a part of the UN process of try- Organization voiced the thought that ing to make a difference in the world people want jobs, and that is their was a very rewarding experience. I right. She also indicated that we must look forward to attending next year’s focus on advancing human rights and conference.

Thoughts on the UNDPI Workshop on Social Media 2014 graphic North Pole, is a WFUWO representative to UNDPI and a polar- Arctic environmental advocate and activist whose work focuses on the im- pacts of climate and societal change on the world's indigenous peoples.

This contribution is based on notes taken at the WFUWO-organized work- shop presented at the 65th Annual UNDPI/NGO Conference on August MOKI KOKORIS 28, 2014, in New York. The panelist addressed the topic of “Social Media, Moki Kokoris, the first woman of Surveillance and Information Wars: Ukrainian descent to reach the Geo- Egypt, Tunisia, and Ukraine.”

34 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 "I'm not a journalist... I just took part of where oppressive regimes maintain the revolution [because] I cared." strict control over their citizens, but it (Mariya Soroka, co-founder of Razom has also facilitated activism movements for Ukraine and political activist) in democracies (i.e. Ferguson). On the opposite side of the coin is concern that It is the various networks of social media as social networking sites become infor- that enable people like Mariya Soroka to mation warehouses, they are vulnerable become activists and masters of a cause to the surveillance of data. Governments they believe in. Whether it is Wikileaks, (the NSA in the USA) are able to probe Facebook, Twitter or any other similar meta-data (GPS tracking) and investigate platform, they are all invaluable tools of the sources. Unfortunately, at least in the instantaneous communication over vast United States, such collection and repur- distances and across all societal classes. posing of data is protected by the First As a coordinated effort, Razom galva- Amendment. The Fourth Amendment nized individuals, institutions and organi- (Constitutional Protection) raises even zations around the world to support the more questions regarding government shared quest for democracy, justice and surveillance and what legal frameworks human rights for the people of Ukraine. are required to protect citizen rights.

Livestream broadcasting and indisputable Government (through its various agen- boots-on-the-ground footage uploaded to cies) surveillance, in turn, has prompted YouTube, as well as documented raw info the creation of news outlet sites like or imagery captured on mobile devices in- “The//Intercept” that promise to provide evitably become major instruments of fearless independent and sometimes ad- change that inspire participation. Even one versarial journalism through all forms of action (tweet) can arouse masses with its digital media as an obligation to the pub- exponential reach. As one example, an ini- lic. The mission is to impose trans- tial post on Facebook by “Mustafa” was parency, and thus accountability, on the the critical trigger for the EuroMaidan most powerful governments and regimes. movement, proving that a single hashtag (in Ukraine’s case #digitalmaidan) not only Nevertheless, as a form of civil power, matters, but has the potential to change the social media has become a new “nor- course of history for an entire country. A mal.” Engagement in it lends a sense of digital movement means that a call to ac- empowerment and attracts the voices of tion can go global with a single click. marginalized sectors of civil society to action, particularly because govern- These robust communities of citizen ments cannot respond at the same pace. journalists played pivotal roles in nu- merous political movements and color Additionally, this type of “ear to the revolutions (Orange, Rose, Sunflower, ground” citizen journalism married Arab Spring). Social media has had with traditional outlets lends more re- great impact in authoritarian countries alism and credibility to reporting.

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 35 KEEPING CRIMEA IN THE UKRAINIAN NARRATIVE The United Nations General Assem- greatest losses of any nationality in the bly Resolution 68/262 adopted on early Soviet period, losing fully half of March 27, 2014 sent a message to their people—to execution, starvation Russia, and to Ukraine: The UN, by a or deportation between 1917 and 1933. vote cast by most of the world’s mem- Then in 1944, the Soviet regime con- ber states, called Russia out on its demned the entire Crimean Tatar popu- breach of globally sanctioned interna- lation to what is called the Sürgün, a tional law and reconfirmed its recog- genocidal collective punishment all nition of Ukraine’s legal stewardship 240,000 Crimean Tatars, deported en over Crimea. masse on May 17-18, as special settlers to Uzbek and other distant territories of Almost a quarter of a million Ukrainian the USSR. Despite their collective ex- citizens identify as Crimean Tatars, ap- oneration in the 1960s, the Crimean proximately 98% of these living in the Tatars were not allowed to return to Autonomous Republic of Crimea, where their homelands in Crimea until the be- they are a 12% minority. Since 1991, the ginning of Perestroika. Crimean Tatar Kurultai/Qurultay, or Par- liament, represents the community to the The Crimean Tatar community is faced Ukrainian central government, the with a second Sürgün. Severe harass- Crimean government, and international ment of the Crimean Tatars by the new bodies. The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars Russian government began on March is the executive body of the Qurultay. 18, 2014, right after the illegal referen- dum (see reports by the UN Human On March 20, 2014, Ukraine’s Parlia- Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine) ment adopted a resolution recognizing leading to a wave of exiles to western the Crimean Tatars as the indigenous Ukraine. The number of internally dis- people of Crimea and in April 2014, placed persons (IDPs) from Crimea recognized them as an ethnic group of was recently over 16,000 according to Ukraine. Since the invasion of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Russian Federation, the Crimean (UNHCR, August 17, 2014). Tatars have asserted their right to speak for themselves and the Crimean It is clear that we must keep Crimea Tatar Mejlis has made it clear that the in the Ukrainian narrative and remem- Crimean Tatars are desirous of ber its invasion as the first sundering Ukrainian, not Russian, citizenship. of Ukrainian wholeness. Ukraine is a multi-cultural state, as most modern The Crimean Tatars have had a dreadful states are. Ukraine is not whole with- history with both Russian and Soviet out the inclusion of the Crimean power. The Crimean Tatars suffered the Tatars and all of Ukraine’s minorities.

36 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 THE CRIMEAN TARTARS, AN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF UKRAINE’S CRIMEAN PENINSULA, PARTICIPATE AT THE WORLD CONFERENCE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (WCIP) DURING THE 69TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Over 1,000 indigenous delegates were present at the World Conference of In- digenous Peoples (WCIP) at the United Nations in New York last month. To- gether with heads of states and govern- ments, officials of the United Nations and UN representatives, they gathered to discuss the “realization” of the rights of indigenous peoples, pursuant to the objectives of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted in 2007. This was indeed the main objective of the world conference AYLA BAKKALLI – to strengthen the rights of the more than 370 million indigenous peoples Ayla Bakkalli is the USA Representa- worldwide through their participation tive of the Indigenous Crimean Tatar in an open and inclusive dialogue be- Mejlis and Adviser on Indigenous Mat- tween themselves as the world’s in- ters to the Permanent Mission of digenous and the Member States of the Ukraine to the United Nations. The United Nations. The outcome text Crimean Tatars have participated in adopted at the opening session of the the UN Permanent Forum on Indige- conference was unique in that its pro- nous Issues since 2005. This year, the visions reflected this intent of inclu- Crimean Tatars spoke out as Ukraine’s siveness, outlining the ways in which indigenous people in the first historic indigenous peoples and Member States high-level plenary meeting known as can work together to identify important the World Conference of Indigenous priorities and adopt strategies on issues Peoples (WCIP) in New York on Sep- important to indigenous peoples. tember 23-24, 2014, during the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly. Yet, at this UN World Indigenous Con- But it was all not without great diffi- ference (WCIP) last month, the indige- culty, as will be revealed in this report. nous Crimean Tatars experienced

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 37 unbelievable difficulties in obtaining kind of exclusion this conference was their Confirmation Letters, which serve meant to address and remedy. as proof of registration. Their registra- tions seemed to be in perpetual “pend- On April 1, 2014, the government of ing” status after the announcement that Ukraine officially gave the Crimean Chairman Refat Chubarov of the Tatars recognition in the framework of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People the United Nations Declaration on the would be included among the speakers Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Thus, at Round Table #1 discussing the with the support of the Ukrainian gov- “United Nations system action to im- ernment and the Permanent Mission of plement the Rights of Indigenous Peo- Ukraine to the United Nations, the ples.” Furthermore, due to the high- Crimean Tatar leadership registered level nature of this conference, all at- and was given the opportunity to speak tendees and participants were required at the high-level meetings of the UN to obtain additional passes for the WCIP conference, thwarting Russia’s Opening Plenary Meeting at the Gen- obvious intent to block the participa- eral Assembly Hall in order to partici- tion of the Crimean Tatars as Ukraine’s pate in the Round Tables #1, #2, and indigenous people. At the WCIP, the #3 and the Panel discussions. The in- Crimean Tatars were represented by digenous Crimean Tatar delegation their most prominent leaders: Refat never received the necessary access Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of passes to attend all of the sessions rele- the Crimean Tatar people and leader of vant to them. the Crimean Tatar people, MP Mustafa Cemiloglu of the Ukrainian Parliament According to item 3(h) of the United (Verkhovna Rada). Nations General Assembly (GA) Reso- lution A/RES/29 on modalities and or- However, since the invasion of Crimea ganization, - “applications for by Russian-backed troops, violations accreditation to the Secretariat [are to] of the human rights of the Crimean be through an open and transparent Tartars have increased, and continue. procedure, in accordance with the es- As recently as several days after the tablished practice for the accreditation end of the conference, two young men, of representatives of organizations and indigenous Crimean Tatars, were ab- institutions of indigenous peoples, ducted in Crimea. Prior to this inci- which will provide for timely and com- dent, the premises of the Mejlis of the prehensive information on the partici- Crimean Tatar People were subjected pation of such organizations and to an 11-hour search, after which, all institutions of indigenous peoples for Mejlis members were evicted without consideration by Member States.” It is notice or just cause. Crimean Tatar truly ironic that the obstacles to partici- leader Mustafa Cemiloglu stated that pation faced by the indigenous three (3) people are missing, which Crimean Tatar leaders are exactly the brings the total to fifteen (15) persons

38 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 from the indigenous Crimean Tatar The Crimean Tatars cannot forget the population missing as mid August. It is mass deportation from their Crimea a fact that Crimean Tatars are being homeland of May 18, 1944, by the So- persecuted in Crimea without legal viet communist regime—they consider grounds. Recently, all the indigenous it one of the cruelest injustices inflicted Crimean Tatar journalists and editors upon humanity. Indigenous Crimean of a Crimean State Television and Tatars will continue to adhere to Arti- Radio corporation, “Krym” were dis- cles 3, 4 and 5 of the United Nations missed. We can state with all certainty Declaration on the Rights of Indige- that the underlying reason for this se- nous People, which upholds their right ries of abductions, closures of Crimean to self-determination. The Crimean Tatar institutions, and the dismissals of Tatars insist on the right to stay in journalists, is the refusal of the indige- Crimea while supporting the territorial nous Crimean Tatars to recognize the integrity of Ukraine. For the Crimean Russian Federation’s illegal annexation Tatars the right to self-determination of Crimea, Ukraine. means choosing Ukraine.

December 6, 2013 - Panelists of the event exploring how the war in Ukraine is affecting women--as participants, victims, and caretakers: Dr. Marian J, Rubchak on the Women's Squadron, Ayla Bakkalli, about the pro-Ukraine position of the Crimean Tatars, Roksolana Misilo on the UNWLA's War Victims Fund, and Dr. Martha Kichorowska Kebalo, WFUWO organizer and moderator. A full house audience learned about women finding empowerment in standing up for their country, while also experiencing new dimensions of wartime gender inequality and gender-based violence.

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 39 FRIENDS OF WFUWO AND FACEBOOK

EARLIER NETWORKS OF journal which kept them abreast of de- FRIENDS OF WFUWO velopments. For 40 years, the Finan- cial Committee encouraged subscriptions through organizing liter- During the 1970s and 1980s, groups ary evenings and various fundraising such as the WFUWO Financial Com- efforts, but most successfully, through mittee of America established in the annual Ukrainian Press Galas Philadelphia in 1968 by Maria which they organized in cooperation Charyna (the Committee’s president with the Union of Ukrainian Journal- for 35 years, from 1968-2003) did a ists of America between 1971 and great deal to cultivate a community of 1986. The committee ceased its activ- persons who called themselves Friends ity as of September 2013. We are of WFUWO. Mostly this meant sub- grateful to all of these women for their scribing to the WFUWO’s quarterly dedicated efforts to keep us viable.

Members of the Financial Committee of America meeting with Orysia Sushko WFUWO President on May 27, 2014, at the Passage Restaurant in Philadelphia. From left are Oksana Woroch, Chrystyna Kulchytsky (WFUWO FC President 2003- 2013), Halyna Pyrih, Iryna Stercho (FC corresponding secretary), Marta Kichorowska Kebalo (WFUWO Main Rep to UN/ECOSOC), Chrystia Charyna Senyk (FC Vice President), Ania Maksymovych (FC secretary, who died shortly after this meeting on June 29, 2014), Orysia Sushko (President, WFUWO) and Maria Leskiw (FC archivist). Other members of the 2012 leadership who were not present: Daria Fedak, Orysia Novosiwsky, Ulana Prociuk (all members of the FC Auditing committee), Myroslava Hill (Treasurer), and Maria Zakhariasevych.

40 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 WFUWO IS FACEBOOK-ING IT!

The technology revolution of the re- cent decades has drastically changed the way people communicate and dis- seminate information. WFUWO has taken advantage of the new social media, establishing a website and now also Facebook pages—one WFUWO Facebook utilizing Ukrainian language for the WFUWO international network of member organizations, and a second WFUWO at the UN Facebook page utilizing English language to reach persons interested in the work of our SOFIKA ZIELYK group of representatives at the United Nations in New York and Geneva. Sofika Zielyk, is an artist by profes- sion, whose pysanky and ceramics are On March 13, 2013, less than one hour her livelihood. She joined us as a rep- after the page was launched, 20 Face- resentative to UN/ECOSOC with spe- book-ers gave their stamp of approval cial assignment to NGO Committee on by hitting the ”like” button. We now UNICEF from fall 2013- summer have well over 200 “likes.” Our 2014. Recently, she has become our “friends” reside not only in the US but “resident representative in Kyiv,” in Europe, Asia and South America where she is on a Fulbright research and information about WFUWO at the grant in relation to the study of folk UN is spreading. Our Facebook activi- imagery in very early 20th century ties have cemented some new connec- Ukrainian art. tions and friendships, as when we participated in an Iftar (the Ramadan Our World Federation of Ukrainian meal often shared in community) at the Women’s Organizations (WFUWO) Crimean Tatar mosque in Brooklyn, was founded in Philadelphia in 1948 at NY at the invitation of Ayla Bakkalli, a time when communications meant US representative of the Crimean Tatar the telephone, telegraph, newspaper Mejlis. advertisements or letters sent through the postal service. Over the earlier Our Facebook page and e-list mail- years of WFUWO’s UN participation, ings are helping to increase aware- we used these same channels of com- ness, especially among young munication to inform WFUWO mem- professionals, of the work of the bers and the Ukrainian community WFUWO and its United Nations about our work. NGO Representation.

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 41 The “WFUWO at the UN” Facebook events in which WFUWO representa- page displays WFUWO’s logo and tives are involved. We will keep post- contains a brief description of the or- ing and ask you to please continue to ganization and its mission statement, visit our page and add your com- and most importantly, informational ments and encourage others to “like” postings and photos of UN-related us, too!

Pictured above, seated from left: Ivanka Bilych, Ayla Bakkalli, Ivanka Zajac, Nadia Danylyshyn; standing from left: Martha Kebalo, Andrij Dobriansky, Sofika Zielyk, Olya Yarychkivska, Viktoriia Brezheniuk, Dianna Derhak

THE UKRAINIAN YOUTH DELEGATE PROGRAM TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Viktoriia Brezheniuk Viktoriia Brezheniuk (center) is a youth representation of WFUWO to UNDPI, and a student at Lehigh University. She interviewed two Ukrainian Youth Dele- gates to the UN for this article.

In October 2014, the Bohdan Hawrylyshyn Charitable Foundation, together with Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Youth and Sports launched the Ukrain- ian Youth Delegate to the UN program.

42 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 The goals of the program include in- ian people participate in the interna- creasing awareness of youth concerns tional discussion on the post-2015 de- in the world, promoting the recognition velopment agenda. In addition, Youth of their rights and aspirations, support- Delegates plan to utilize their UN ex- ing national youth policies, and perience and the knowledge of com- strengthening youth participation in munity engagement and social decision-making at all levels. activism gained through the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program Ukraine is currently represented at the supported by the U.S. Department of UN by two Youth Delegates, Viktoriya State's Bureau of Educational and Cul- Luchka (graduate of Ivan Franko Na- tural Affairs to launch the first All- tional University, Co-founder and Ukrainian Youth Summit. The President of NGO Lviv Academy for nation-wide event involving a diverse Human Rights of Don Bosco) and Vik- youth audience from different back- toriia Shvydchenko (graduate of Taras grounds will draw attention to the real Shevchenko National University, Head needs of youth and the ways these of External Relations of Lviv Academy needs can be addressed. The outcome for Human Rights of Don Bosco). As document of the Summit will include members of the official delegation of the vision of Ukrainian young people the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of of the policies targeting them and the Ukraine, they work closely with the recommendations for policy reforms. Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN through monitoring the work of This collaborative innovative project the Third Committee as well as com- has truly opened the doors to global posing and delivering speeches to rep- discussions for the Ukrainian youth. resent Ukraine’s official position. They Viktoriias have paved the path for the actively participate in youth-related ac- next cohort of Ukrainian Youth Repre- tivities at the UN Headquarters: attend sentatives at the UN. From now on, side-events, informal meetings, partici- Ukrainian Youth Representatives will pate in drafting resolutions and negoti- rotate annually and will go through a ating Ukraine’s position in the comprehensive orientation program to discussions. ensure that they build upon the achievements of their predecessors and Upon their return to Ukraine, Youth advocate for placing the most urgent Delegates plan to organize a series of concerns of the Ukrainian youth on the consultations with the youth represent- UN agenda. Viktoriias are ready to ing various NGOs to share their expe- share their knowledge of the UN sys- rience. They intend to visit tem with their future colleagues to en- universities in different Ukrainian sure that the project will function cities and conduct a series of informal properly and that future youth delegates consultations with Ukrainian students will be well prepared for the challenges in order to ensure that young Ukrain- of the UN environment.

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 43 WFUWO AND THE BLUE HEART CAMPAIGN

The Blue Heart has in Vienna, the become the interna- WFUWO’s Anti- tional emblem of Trafficking Com- the fight against mittee, then chaired human trafficking. by our current pres- The World Federa- ident, Orysia tion of Ukrainian Sushko, worked Women’s Organiza- with the UNODC tions is proud to to promote the have been a partner Blue Heart cam- in the Blue Heart paign in the campaign since the Ukrainophone dias- initiative’s incep- pora, as well as in tion in 2008. Ukraine. The WFUWO’s com- In an effort to in- mittee translated crease the awareness around the the Blue Heart materials into Ukrain- issue of human trafficking, the ian, materials only available at that United Nations has chosen July 30, time in the official languages of the 2014, as first World Day against UN. The WFUWO sponsored several Trafficking in Persons, promoting workshops and campaign launches in the message of the Blue Heart cam- Ukraine, including in the city of Lviv paign internationally, aimed at stop- (2009; 2012) and in the Ukrainian ping the plight of the millions of communities of North America. women, men and children victims, as well as at encouraging people to take In promoting the Blue Heart cam- action to prevent this crime. (More paign, the WFUWO joined forces information available at with Canada’s pro-active MP Joy www.endht.org). Smith, working closely with the Canadian government on the Anti- Immediately after the launching of Trafficking effort, and with the the Blue Heart campaign on 5 March award-winning author of the non- 2008 by The United Nations Office fiction publications “The Natashas” on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Ex- and “The Johns” Victor Malarek and ecutive Director Antonio Maria Rachel Durchstag, CEO of Chicago Costa at the Women’s World Awards Alliance against Sexual Exploitation.

44 UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 UKRAINIAN WOMAN IN THE WORLD Quarterly Journal of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations

We invite you to subscribe to this quarterly publication, “Ukainian Woman in the World”. Please do so for yourself or your family and acquaintances in Canada, Ukraine and all other countries where Ukrainian women have settled. This year we celebrate the 50th year of publication. The journal documents the efforts and accomplishments of Ukrainian women world wide.

Annual donation for this journal is $30.00 US / $30.00 CDN To receive the journal, please send your donation along with your name, address and telephone number to WFUWO, 2118A Bloor Street West. Suite 205, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6S 1M8

Thank you in advance for your donation and your interest in the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations (WFUWO).

ÓÊÐÀ¡ÍÊÀ  ÑÂIÒI Êâàðòàëüíèê Ñâiòîâî¢ Ôåäåðàöi¢ Óêðà¢íñüêèõ Æiíî÷èõ Îðãàíiçàöié

Ëàñêàâî çàïðîøóºìî Âàñ ïåðåäïëàòèòè êâàðòàëüíèê “Óêðà¢íêà â ñâiòi” äëÿ Âàñ àáî äëÿ Âàøèõ ðiäíèõ, çíàéîìèõ, äðóçiâ ó Êàíàäi, Óêðà¢íi òà iíøèõ êðà¢í. Æóðíàë âèõîäèòü ó ñâiò âæå 50 ðîêiâ, íiêîëè íå ñòàðiº; öå ëiòîïèñ ïðàöi i äóìêè óêðà¢íñüêî¢ æiíêè ÷åðåç öiëèé ñâiò. Ði÷íà ïåðåäïëàòà êâàðòàëüíèêà - $30.00 US / $30.00 CDN Ïðîøó âèñëàòè ïåðåäïëàòó, iç ïðiçâèùåì, àäðåñó i òåëåôîí íà àäðåñó: WFUWO, 2118 A Bloor Street West, Suite 205 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6S 1M8

Äÿêóºìî Âàì çà ïåðåäïëàòó i ïðèõèëüíiñòü äî ÑÔÓÆÎ .

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