Outcome UKR_D_1.3

National and sub-national capacities and systems are strengthened and informed by data underpining efficient, inclusive and gender-responsive crisis response, recovery planning and green economic growth.

UN Women Ukraine made progress towards this outcome in 2024. Women’s needs and priorities are better addressed in legislation that holds duty-bearers accountable for implementing GEWE. Ukraine further aligned its legislation with the EU gender equality acquis and SDG 5 targets. UN Women provided expert support and legal opinions contributing to the adoption of two laws. Women and girls will now be better protected from gender-based violence through the Law #3733-IX from 22.05.2024 on Amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses. Better protection and support services for women and girls will also be ensured by the Law #4073-IX from 20.11.2024 on Amending Certain Legislative Acts which aims to improve the mechanism for preventing and combating gender-based violence. UN Women contributed to Draft Law #10420 to better align the Ukrainian legal framework with the Istanbul Convention by establishing specific rights and protections for minors. Draft Law #12297 proposes amendments to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes, including to criminalize harassment and genital mutilation. UN Women provided expert advice, capacity development and coordination support to the Deputy Prime Minister on European and Euro Atlantic Integration (DPM), Government Office of EU Integration Cooperation, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Social Policy (MoSP). Policy recommendations for inclusion in the EU’s instrument of financial support to Ukraine, the Ukraine Facility Plan , approved by the GoU in March 2024 were provided. Consequently, the Plan includes concrete steps to secure gender-responsive and inclusive recovery. The Government also integrated gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) to the Draft Law # 12245 on Amendments to the Budget Code. Due to the advocacy efforts of UN Women and women-led organizations, key budget holders and other participants in the budgeting process are required to consider gender aspects during budget planning, implementation, and reporting. This milestone promotes the institutionalization of gender equality within Ukraine’s financial governance, ensuring that budgetary decisions address the needs of all population groups, fostering inclusive and equitable recovery. The Governments of Ukraine and Germany with support from UN Women established the Alliance for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery launched at the 2024 Berlin Ukraine Recovery Conference. UN Women helped mobilize more than 60 signatories – governments, international organizations, UN agencies, civil society, and businesses – to join the Alliance and commit to more financing, women’s participation and projects in support of gender equality in Ukraine’s recovery. UN Women advocacy helped preserve the Sectoral Working Group (SWG) on Gender Equality among the 18 thematic groups that are part of Ukraine’s donor coordination architecture. UN Women supported the Alliance and the SWG’s operations by providing expert, technical and coordination support, including through the facilitation of training on the OECD Gender Marker and Women Empowerment Principles. For the sub national level, UN Women provided technical support and guidance to integrate gender equality and social inclusion into The State Strategy of Regional Development till 2027 and its Operational Plan (approved in August, 2024). UN Women contributed by organizing multi-stakeholders’ consultations, mobilizing women’s groups and civil society organizations in the policy making process. 55% of the gender-related recommendations proposed by UN Women and women’s CSOs were incorporated into the documents. The Strategy requires the inclusion of women and girls’ needs in regional and local planning, such as those related to gender-based violence (GBV), conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and gender equality in the provision of education, social services and economic development support. At the regional and local level, UN Women supported gender mainstreaming in development and recovery plans and budgets with local and regional authorities, self-help groups (SHG) and WROs. UN Women generated data and research for evidence-based decision-making by duty-bearers , including by finalizing a Study on the impact of the full-scaled invasion to the economic opportunities of women which will inform women economic empowerment and gender-responsive recovery.