The Duchess of Edinburgh in Ukraine

The Duchess of Edinburgh has become the first member of the Royal Family to visit Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion,with a one-day visit which focused on work in the field of conflict-related sexual violence.

Her Royal Highness met President Zelensky and First Lady Zelenska, as well as women, men and children impacted by the war during her time in the country. 

At the United Nations’ Survivor Relief Center in Kyiv, Her Royal Highness The Duchess gained insights into the operations of the centers spread across 12 cities in Ukraine. These centers offer crucial psychosocial and legal support to individuals in need, with a particular focus on survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. Her Royal Highness engaged in discussions with the President and First Lady regarding strategies to ensure enduring support for survivors. Additionally, they discussed the pivotal role of women peacebuilders in Ukraine’s ongoing recovery and reconstruction efforts.

Addressing the CRSV Conference last month, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh underscored her commitment to championing the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) and the UN’s Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPS), a commitment she announced on International Women’s Day in 2019. Throughout the years, The Duchess has undertaken visits to several countries to shed light on the enduring impact of historical and ongoing conflicts. These visits include Kosovo, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Colombia, where she has listened to firsthand testimonies from survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.

We must stand shoulder to shoulder with all survivors to secure justice and holistic redress, and ensure that this crime isn’t an accepted part of conflict. Their rights and their voices must be at the heart of all our efforts to consign conflict-related sexual violence to the history books.

The Duchess also paid her respects to those who lost their lives in Bucha, commemorating the two-year anniversary of its liberation from Russian forces. During her visit, she went to the ‘Road to Life’, a bridge that played a significant role in the Ukrainian resistance. The bridge was strategically blown up to halt the advance of Russian troops towards Kyiv and later served as a crucial route for civilians seeking refuge from the Russian occupation.

Her Royal Highness met Ukrainian women who have played important roles in the conflict and community recovery, learning more about the work of volunteers who help their communities cope with the aftermath of the attacks with mental health care activities for children.