On Monday, February 12, the first meeting of the Platform for Ensuring Gender Mainstreaming and Inclusion in Recovery was held under the chairmanship of Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyna.
What is known about the possibilities for the return of Ukrainian citizens from abroad
During the meeting, representatives of the ministries, the Parliament and other authorities, and international and public organisations discussed the goals and objectives on the path of gender-responsible and inclusive restoration of Ukraine and outlined problematic issues and next steps.
Olha Stefanishyna notes the high level of political readiness of all state bodies, international partners and representatives of civil society to work together in this direction.
We have already done a lot of work in the area of gender equality. However, in times of daily struggle with the enemy, as well as post-war reconstruction and in the context of the process of Ukraine's accession to the EU, we have many new tasks and priorities, said Olga Stefanishyna.
She emphasised that fundamental work must be done for comprehensive recovery, taking into account an inclusive gender-oriented approach in all processes taking place in the state.
Key priorities include:
Strengthening the effectiveness of coordination between state bodies, international organisations, funds and structures to ensure gender mainstreaming and inclusion in recovery;
Preparation of legislative proposals to ensure gender equality and inclusion during the implementation of the recovery plan of Ukraine;
Ensuring gender equality and inclusion in recovery, etc., in particular through the collection of statistical information.
Separately, the Deputy Prime Minister notes the importance of developing a comprehensive vision for creating opportunities for the return of Ukrainian citizens from abroad.
Also, during the meeting, the regulations of the Platform and the procedure for joining it were agreed upon.
The absolute majority of Ukrainians returned to their homeland in 2023
During 11 months of last year, more than 32 million border crossings were recorded.
What is essential to understand is that the difference between those who left and those who returned to Ukraine is less than 1%, which is 142 thousand.
32.6 million crossings of the state border were recorded in Ukraine in 11 months of 2023, according to the Administration of Ukraine's State Border Guard Service. This is 1.6 million or 5% more border crossings than in the corresponding period of 2022.
Experts note that 14 million people returned to Ukraine in the incomplete year of 2023, and 14.1 million left the country.
In addition, it is emphasised that this is 15 times less than in the first year of a full-scale war.
Thus, in 2022, the difference between those who left Ukraine and those who returned was 2.2 million.
If, at the beginning of the year, Ukrainians left more often than returned, this trend has changed since July. The peak of returns in 2023 fell in April, with +114,000 citizens, and in August, with +144,000 citizens of Ukraine.
