Ertugrul Apakan: Meaningful Change for Progress - Statement by Chief Monitor of OSCE SMM on International Women’s Day

“Today, 8 March 2019, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) joins people around the world in celebrating International Women’s Day. We take this opportunity to honour the achievements of women and to highlight this year’s theme urging all of us to ‘think equal, build smart and innovate for change’.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we should reflect on how we can further create meaningful change, recognizing the crucial role women play in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction.  We should redouble our efforts to enhance the participation of women in peace and security initiatives.  

The SMM is monitoring and reporting on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which recognizes the unique role women should and do play in conflict management, conflict resolution and sustainable peacebuilding.

On this International Women’s Day, I would like to honour the efforts of Ukrainian women, as well as to highlight that gender equality is a necessary precondition for building lasting peace and prosperity for all – women and men alike.  

The Mission in this regard welcomes the launch by the OSCE Secretariat of the Survey Report on the Safety and Well-being of Women which includes a particular focus on Ukraine. This research provides important data for informed decision-making and advocacy at different levels with the aim of reducing violence against women in Ukraine and across the region.

Well beyond International Women’s Day, the OSCE SMM will continue to invest in gender mainstreaming all its activities as well as in enhancing women’s participation in the Mission, making our contribution to peace and security better and more inclusive.”