Today, as the world celebrates and honours International Women’s Day (IWD), Ukrainian women around the globe have nothing to celebrate.
In Ukraine, women have been forced to flee following the brutal invasion of their homeland, join a vicious, brutal war against an aggressor, and witness helplessly the destruction and devastation of their homes, cities and lives.
‘The innocent victims of war are always women and their children. They are the ones who suffer terror, hunger, thirst, homelessness and then physical violence by exultant enemies. One of the most abhorrent by-products of war is also the violence and brutality that occupying forces exert on women,’ said Mrs Luba Kaye, President of the Ukrainian Women’s Association in Australia.
Australia has begun to welcome the first refugee arrivals from Ukraine, overwhelmingly women and their children. The UN has estimated over 1.7 million people have already fled their homes in Ukraine, prompting predictions Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will create Europe’s largest refugee crisis since the Second World War. The Ukrainian community has started to organise accommodation, clothing, household goods, vouchers and food to assist those who have been forced to escape the violence. The first arrivals are in Melbourne already, with more expected next week.
‘These women and their families need our help. Battered but not beaten, they are the ones who must calm their children’s terrors and instil the resolve to persevere while carrying the burden of guilt that they were not able to provide a safe environment in which their children could flourish,’ said Mrs Kaye.
‘Today we must resolve to redouble our efforts to prevent all kinds of violence against women’ she added.
#StandWithUkraine TODAY, so that there is a TOMORROW #NoFlyZone #BoycottRussia #DivestFromRussia
Media inquiries: Mrs Luba Kaye email: lubakaye@bigpond.net.au mobile: 0416 251 727
Ms Olha Lyeskakova (AFUO Coordinator for Ukrainian refugees) email: olha.lyeskakova@gmail.com mobile: 0456 817 608
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