Standing with Ukraine on International Women's Day
Standing with Ukraine on International Women’s Day.
Today we expected to be celebrating International Women’s Day, and all the achievements of the past year. Instead, we find ourselves watching an extraordinary crisis unfold in Ukraine, the likes of which have not been seen since World War II. Millions of people, many of them women and children, are being forced to flee for their lives.
LEAD Network’s values of inclusion and support run deep, and we condemn the aggression of the Russian leadership towards the democratic and free nation of Ukraine. Our thoughts are with all of our members living and working in Ukraine, and with those of you who have family, friends and colleagues there. We also stand in solidarity with the companies working tirelessly to continue providing food and supplies under desperate circumstances.
We have made a donation to Giro555, an umbrella organisation based in the Netherlands and representing 21 different agencies, which is coordinating humanitarian aid for those affected. On March 9th, we are holding an urgent meeting with our Partner Ambassadors to discuss what practical actions we can take. LEAD Network’s experiences during the pandemic have proved how strong we are when we act together.
On this International Women’s Day, let’s remember the words of Holocaust survivor Eli Wiesel: “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Wherever men or women are persecuted for their race, religion, or political views, that place must – at that moment – become the centre of the universe.”
Ukraine is at the centre of our universe and our hearts today.
LEAD Network Leadership Team