Roma women, like all Ukrainian women, have the right to equal access to resources, opportunities, and protection.

President of Voice of Romni Anzhelika Bielova represented our organization at a UN agency consultative meeting with women’s civil society organizations working in western regions of Ukraine. Similar events have already taken place in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Poltava, and Uzhhorod. This time, the dialogue continued in Lviv.

This is an important platform for discussing the needs of women from vulnerable groups and finding effective solutions to support them.

Representatives of women’s organizations working with Roma women, internally displaced persons, LGBTQ+ women, HIV-positive women, and widows of fallen soldiers have developed recommendations for the UN Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development in Ukraine for 2025–2029 across four key areas that will shape international aid during Ukraine’s recovery process.

  • Human capital and demographic dynamics;
  • Inclusive economic development;
  • Environmental protection;
  • Peace, justice, and strong institutions.

We must collectively voice the needs of women from vulnerable groups to ensure them a dignified life, equal rights and opportunities, and jointly advocate for their participation in decision-making,” emphasized Anzhelika Bielova.

She also highlighted the importance of women’s involvement in peacebuilding:

With experience in providing comprehensive support, our organization offers partners and donors effective steps to expand women’s economic opportunities, promote their integration, and ensure their participation in decision-making.

Anzhelika Bielova presented key recommendations for UN agencies:

  • Engage women’s civil society organizations (CSOs) in coordination mechanisms to improve development and recovery processes (sectoral working groups, UN program supervisory boards).
  • Support programs that foster women’s political participation and leadership.
  • Ensure women’s participation in decision-making processes related to recovery, including the development of regional and national plans, as well as participation in international and national events that incorporate gender perspectives on recovery.
  • Strengthen the institutional capacity of local women’s organizations.
  • Provide long-term and flexible funding for women’s organizations.
  • Include a mandatory line item for indirect costs (overhead) in grant budgets to cover additional organizational needs during project implementation.