Standing up for our rights: Feminist insights from the Ukraine response

Practical recommendations to help humanitarian actors, donors and governments shift away from traditional humanitarian mechanisms.

Executive summary

The response to Russia’s military assault on Ukraine is yet another example of how the international system fails to acknowledge and promote the incredible work of civil society organisations like women’s rights organisations, (WROs), women-led organisations (WLOs) and young people’s groups. These groups play critical roles in crisis response, despite their efforts lacking both political and financial support.

This policy report has been developed in collaboration with 28 ActionAid partners working in the Ukraine response. It provides practical recommendations to help humanitarian actors, donors and governments shift away from traditional humanitarian mechanisms towards adapting transformative and inclusive ways to reach those in need.