Ukraine: New UN Women and CARE report highlights disproportionate impact of war on women and minorities
After more than two months of war in Ukraine that has forced millions of refugees and displaced persons to flee, a new Rapid Gender Analysis by UN Women and CARE reveals that women and minorities face enormous challenges when it comes to health and safety, and Access to food as a result of the crisis. In Ukraine, women are increasingly becoming heads of households and leaders in their communities as men are drafted, yet they remain largely excluded from formal decision-making processes related to humanitarian efforts, peacebuilding and other areas that directly impact their lives.
The analysis, based on surveys and interviews with people in 19 regions of Ukraine between April 2 and 6, 2022, highlights the gender dynamics of the crisis and recommends actions for governments, the international community and other actors to implement their humanitarian goals help answer.
“When it comes to the humanitarian needs of displaced people, local people and households, women do most of the work: they drive, they deliver medicine and food to hospitals and local people, they take care of their disabled relatives and children,” said one participant in the overview .
The report shows that the impact of war is particularly disproportionate for internally displaced people and marginalized groups such as women-headed households, Roma, LGBTQIA+ people and people with disabilities. Many respondents from Roma communities gave testimony of severe discrimination, both in their daily struggle and in accessing humanitarian aid.
The analysis also shows that gender roles are changing in Ukraine. While many men have become unemployed and are primarily engaged in the armed forces, women report taking on new roles and multiple jobs to make up for lost family income. Women also play an important role in providing humanitarian assistance to local communities. However, although they are increasingly taking on leadership roles in their families and communities, they are largely excluded from formal political and administrative decision-making processes.
With the closure of schools, high demand for volunteer work, and the absence of men, women’s unpaid caregiving burden has increased significantly. The retreat in gender equality is already evident in the ongoing crisis. The war increases unemployment across the population and is likely to push women into vulnerable informal sectors of the economy and increase poverty.
Women and girls also highlighted poor access to health services, particularly for gender-based violence (GBV) survivors and pregnant, expectant and new mothers, as well as increasing fears of gender-based violence and food shortages, particularly for those living in major conflict areas. Many respondents also spoke of the challenges and barriers they face in accessing humanitarian assistance and services, and about 50 percent of women and men said mental health was a major area of life impacted by the war.
“It is critical that humanitarian assistance in Ukraine considers and addresses the diverse needs of women and girls, men and boys, including those furthest left behind,” said Sima Bahous, United Nations Executive Director for Women. “This timely analysis provides evidence of these needs and their urgency. Women have played an important role in the humanitarian response of their communities. They also need to be meaningfully involved in the planning and decision-making processes to ensure their specific needs are met, particularly in relation to health, safety and access to livelihoods.”
“Our rapid gender analysis allows us to consult directly with affected populations to determine exactly what specific needs different groups of people have and how they can best be met,” says Sofia Sprecher Sineiro, Secretary General of CARE International. “What we are hearing from people in Ukraine is that certain groups – such as people with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic minorities, single mothers and unaccompanied children – each need different forms of protection and assistance. To keep our response effective and relevant, such groups must be consulted and prioritized throughout the relief ecosystem as this truly devastating situation continues to unfold.”
Core recommendations of the Rapid Gender Analysis:
- Ensure that humanitarian assistance meets the needs of women, men, girls and boys in vulnerable situations and from various marginalized groups, particularly the Roma community, the elderly and people with disabilities.
- Prioritize women and young people to equally lead the response and participate in decision-making.
- Support women and women’s rights organizations participating in the response by providing funding and amplifying their voice on national and international platforms.
- Provide vocational training and livelihood opportunities for displaced women and men, while being mindful of changing gender roles.
- Make access to shelters inclusive and non-discriminatory. Collective accommodation should offer gender and/or family segregated accommodation.
- Reduce the burden of home schooling by encouraging families to reallocate care work.
- Design cash assistance to reach the most vulnerable and vulnerable women, particularly in occupied territories, areas of active hostilities and rural areas.
- Fill gaps in services to respond to gender-based violence.
- Make sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health care a priority, including clinical care for sexual assault survivors and ensuring access to contraceptives.
About UN women
UN Women is the United Nations organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. As a global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress in meeting their needs around the world.
UN Women is committed to ensuring equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of humanitarian action. UN Women works in crisis prevention, preparedness and response to reduce vulnerabilities, address risk, promote resilience and strengthen women’s leadership, and fulfills its role through normative work in supporting Member States and the United Nations in development and implementation of policies and coordination within the United Nations system and the humanitarian community, as well as through field programming.
To learn more, visit: www.unwomen.org / eca.unwomen.org
Media contacts:
Global: [ Click to reveal ]
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Ukraine: [ Click to reveal ]
About CARE
Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE has more than seven decades of experience helping people prepare for disasters, providing lifesaving assistance when a crisis hits, and helping communities recover after the emergency has passed. CARE places a special focus on women and children, who are often disproportionately affected by disasters. To learn more, visit www.care-international.org.
As part of the response in Ukraine, CARE International is currently working with humanitarian organizations both within Ukraine and in neighboring countries including Romania, Slovakia and Poland. Relief supplies include relief items such as food, hygiene items and sleeping bags. CARE also provides cash, housing and psychosocial support to affected populations. We place a special focus on working with women-led organizations and women in humanitarian action.
Media contacts:
Lucy Beck, CARE International, +44 7944 904 662, [ Click to reveal ]
Sabine Wilke, CARE Germany, +49 151 147 805 98, [ Click to reveal ]
