In the face of escalating violence, some are calling for a peace process that centres justice, sovereignty, and inclusive participation. The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS), alongside Ukrainian civil society, has launched a 10-Point Compact for Ukraine’s Just and Sustainable Peace – a bold framework that centres Ukrainian leadership, particularly women’s, in any future peace process. The Compact calls for “Unity, Strength, and Women’s Leadership” to build both internal and external solidarity for long-term peace and stability, recognising that women in security roles are not only implementers of peace, but key architects of it.

The Compact lays out ten non-negotiable principles to guide international engagement with Ukraine’s future. These include:

‍1) No Peace at Any Cost, calling for Ukraine’s sovereignty without concessions on occupied territories or affiliations;

‍2) Ukraine as an Equal Negotiation Partner, ensuring Ukraine determines its own future;

‍3) Concrete and Comprehensive Security Guarantees to deter future aggression;

4) Freedom of Movement and Protection of Civilian Populations, including demilitarised zones and humanitarian corridors;

‍5) A Human-Centred Peace Process, which integrates civilian needs into ceasefire and recovery plans;

‍6) Accountability and Justice for War Crimes is highlighted, an area where women in legal and security institutions are playing critical roles in documentation and prosecution;

7) Unity, Strength, and Women’s Leadership is not only a call for inclusion, but a recognition of how women’s security leadership strengthens peace outcomes;

‍8) Ensure Resilience and Sustainable Peace links Ukraine’s EU aspirations to reform and rights protection;

‍9) Combat Disinformation and Strengthen Independent Media urges the international community to counter Russian propaganda; and

‍10) Economic Recovery and Reconstruction demands a just, gender-responsive rebuilding process.

This Compact serves as a vital intervention against backroom deals that erase those most affected by war and asserts that Ukraine’s path to peace must be shaped by its people, including the women defending it every day. Together, these ten points offer a blueprint for a just and durable peace, one that not only defends Ukraine’s sovereignty but affirms the essential role of women in shaping the nation’s security and recovery. The international community must move beyond symbolic support and take meaningful action to uphold these principles and ensure Ukrainian women’s leadership is central to the peace process.

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To download the 10-Point Compact, see here