A year has passed since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022, and the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) needs of women, girls, adolescents and marginalised groups in Ukraine are particularly high. In the past 12 months, there have been 747 attacks on health-care facilities recorded, including maternity hospitals. As of February 2023, approximately 14.5 million people within Ukraine were found to be in need of health assistance and about 3.6 million people specifically required sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) prevention and response services. The proportion of people in need of some form of SRHR services, including SGBV services and access to safe abortion care, will continue to rise the longer this crisis is protracted, as well as in its aftermath.
The briefing moderated by Kjersti Augland (Sex Og Politikk, IPPF Norway), Co-chair of C2030E Humanitarian Working Group. During the event, MPs had the opportunity to hear directly from Ukrainian civil society and government at the forefront of the fight for gender equality and SRHR in their country. The opening remarks were made by Hon. Predrag Fred Matic (S&D, Croatia), co-chair of the MEPs for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, European Parliament. Some of the speakers were: Dr. Galyna Maystruk, Executive Director of Women’s Health and Family Planning Ukraine (IPPF Member Association), Ms. Kateryna Levchenko, Ukraine Governmental Commissioner for Gender Policy, and Ms. Iryna Trokhym, Centre “Women’s perspectives” (EPF partner in Ukraine).