THE WAR MUST END NOW

Today, on International  Women’s Day, the ETF Women‘s Committee stands in solidarity with all our sisters affected by the attacks on Ukraine. We stand with all women and their children fleeing their homes, seeking refuge in neighbouring countries.

We join the global labour movement and the international community in condemning the war and call on all parties to adhere strictly to international humanitarian and human rights law. This conflict must stop now. Today and every day, we call for an end to attacks, for peace, dialogue and justice.

The ETF Women’s Committee is particularly worried about the women and girls remaining in Ukraine and the women and girl refugees. War always has a gender dimension. Too often, we have borne witness to gender-based violence in wars and in conflict zones.

An overwhelming majority of Ukrainian refugees that seek safety in neighbouring European states and beyond are women and children. Women and girls are particularly exposed to gender-based violence among refugees and people otherwise displaced from their homes.

It is of utmost importance to secure a gender-sensitive response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine that safeguards the fundamental human rights of Ukrainian women and girls in all their diversity.

Furthermore, we know that transport workers are particularly under threat. We have received confirmed and unconfirmed reports of the military targeting of transport infrastructure, the change of control of airports and railways, and the shutdown of airspace and ports.

Our heart is with our sisters working in transport. And we stress how important transport is to secure humanitarian aid, support with medicine, food and ensure refugees reach safety.

We stand together with our sisters and with all the people of Ukraine, Russia and neighbouring countries, calling for peace, dialogue and diplomacy.

To this end, the ETF Women’s Committee urges leaders on all sides to urgently de-escalate the conflict to minimise the threat to civilian lives and livelihoods and seek a peaceful, diplomatic end to this war.

ETUC Women’s Committee demands:

• Immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian military from Ukraine.
• Establishment of humanitarian corridors in support of refugees in the countries of the region and all EU countries.
• Recognise the specific situation of women and children in conflict zones, including the risks of gender-based violence, particularly sexual violence.
• EU Member states and neighbouring countries be offered financial and logistical support to cater to the needs of women and girls refugees in all their diversity, including LGBTI persons, e.g. to provide proper accommodation, access to health care, child care, and specialised services, including gender-responsive psycho-social care;
• We call on Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel to finalise the ratification of the EU to the Istanbul Convention as a matter of urgency.

The war must end now!