Focus of talks will be prevention of sexual harassment and sex-based discrimination in wartime
Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa, ON (October 29, 2026) – What can Canadians share about women’s leadership in military service and what can they learn from the experiences of those leading the recovery efforts in Ukraine? That will be a key area of focus when a delegation of seven women from Ukraine visit Ottawa from November 2 to 5.
The delegation will be meeting with politicians, government officials and members of the public.
The women represent government institutions, women’s rights organizations, coalitions, the security and defence secretary, veteran support groups and advocacy initiatives for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
“We warmly thank Canada and our international partners for their solidarity with Ukraine in its resistance to Russia’s aggression and their trust in women’s leadership,” says Olesia Bondar, delegation leader and director of the Ukrainian Women’s Fund
The delegation will speak to the importance of women’s leadership in Ukraine today and the importance of ensuring that recovery efforts include women’s meaningful participation.
“Russia’s war against Ukraine has profoundly changed women’s roles and responsibilities. Women are defending the country, sustaining services and businesses, leading communities and entering fields where they have long been underrepresented. This growing participation must translate into safe working conditions, professional advancement and lasting influence,” says Natalia Tarasenko, head of the Zhytomyr-based non-government organization, Parity.
“Uniforms, equipment, working conditions and career pathways must reflect women’s participation as a permanent part of service. Effective mechanisms must prevent and respond to sex-based discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace and during service,” says Olha Perunova, Deputy Head of the Human Rights Monitoring Department and Head of the Department for Respecting Gender Equality at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
“We are looking forward to an exchange with the Canadian Armed Forces on these issues.”
Delegation members will also be discussing conflict-related sexual violence and how to support survivors.
They will appear as witnesses at the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development on November 2 where they will provide testimony on Gender-Based Violence Against Ukrainian Women In The Context Of The Russia-Ukraine Conflict.
These themes were featured in the 2026 movie Traces, about survivors of sexual violence. Their testimonies serve as a powerful form of resistance.
The film was co-directed by Alisa Kovalekno, who is part of the delegation to Ottawa. The film is Ukraine’s Official Submission for Best International Feature Film at the 2027 Academy Awards and will be screened November 3 at the University of Ottawa.
Event information and registration: https://www.cips-cepi.ca/event/film-screening-traces/
Delegation members: English speakers, include:
OLESIA BONDAR Feminist, women’s rights activist, Director of the Ukrainian Women’s Fund
ALISA KOVALENKO Award-winning Ukrainian documentary filmmaker, human rights advocate, and member of SEMA Ukraine and the global SEMA network (Global Network of Victims and Survivors to End Wartime Sexual Violence)
OLHA PERUNOVA Deputy Head of the Human Rights Monitoring Department and Head of the Department for Respecting Gender Equality at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
NATALIIA TARASENKO Head of the Zhytomyr-based non-government organization Parity
Delegation members: Interpretation required, include:
POLINA KULISH Police captain, Kramatorsk
KATERYNA LUTSYK Head of Protection, Volunteer Association (an NGO), Khmelnytskyi. Kateryna works on veterans’ issues
HALYNA ZHUKOVSKA Senior Referent of the Apparatus of the Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy
Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
The UN secretary general’s 2026 report on women, peace and security notes the number of cases of conflict-related sexual violence verified by the United Nations has more than doubled since the previous year and cases have almost quadrupled since 2022.
Ukraine and Canada
In September, Prime Minister Mark Carney and the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the 100 Year Partnership Declaration, confirming their alignment, condemning aggression by Russia towards Ukraine, and underlining the importance of reform efforts and its path to EU and NATO membership.
Canada’s connection to Ukraine grows stronger. Just last week, Bill S-210 passed third reading. This designates September as Ukrainian Heritage Month in Canada.
About 1.36 million people, or close to four per cent of the Canadian population, reported at least one of their ethnic origins as Ukrainian in the 2016 census. These communities play an important role in helping with the settlement of Ukrainians displaced by the Russian invasion. Canada has a long history of supporting Ukrainians displaced by war.
For media interviews, contact:
Kathleen O’Grady, QUOI Media Group Inc.
quoi@quoimedia.com
613-897-9276
