These past months in Ukraine have proved the power of that vision.
I
was profoundly moved to visit Ukraine this week and to see the courage of the
Ukrainian people with my own eyes. I’ll never forget walking down Institutska
Street and talking with one woman about her aspirations for a better life. It
gave me a deep, personal sense of how closely linked the people of Ukraine are
not just to Americans, but to people the world over.
I’m
awed by the thousands of strong women who have braved sniper fire from rooftops
to resolve their country’s political crisis and make their voices heard. Ukrainian women have risked their careers,
fortunes, and personal safety to defend their nation’s right to be independent,
democratic and prosperous.
We
must all step up and answer their call.
One
thing’s for sure: Ukrainian women aren’t waiting for their rights tomorrow. They’re demanding them today.
They’re volunteering for the Maidan
Medical Service — risking life and limb to care for their fellow activists and
wounded police under deadly fire. Dr.
Olga Bohomolets turned down a government job in order to continue her
grassroots work for change as head of the Maidan Medical Service.
That
kind of activism and fearlessness speaks to a special kind of courage.
I
see that courage in the women
lawyers and civil society leaders, who are the driving forces behind
organizations like Maidan S.O.S. These women put their lives on the line to document
human rights abuses, provide legal aid to protesters, and organize thousands of
volunteers.
And no one can deny the extraordinary
and fearless contributions of Ukraine’s female journalists. Opposition activist
and
journalist Tetyana Chornovol has uncovered corruption and the abuse of power
because she was willing to swim against the current and do what she knew was
right. And there are many more Ukrainian
women ready to be the Tetyana Chornovols of their moment.
Women
like Ruslana Lyzhychko, who has displayed remarkable strength and commitment as
an activist, human rights advocate, and leader for democratic reform.
When
she would enter the Maidan each night and sing the chorus line from Ukraine’s
national anthem, “Souls and bodies we’ll lay down, all for our freedom,” the
Ukrainian people didn’t just hear the words. They didn’t just hear the message.
Ms. Lyzhychko’s voice was so powerful that it became the soul of a movement.
That
is the power of one voice, and that is why the State Department named Ms.
Lyzhychko an International Women of Courage this week.
The
work of Ms. Chornovol, Ms. Lyzhychko and the hundreds of brave women volunteers
on Maidan are vital to realizing our shared goals of prosperity, stability and
peace. But Ukrainians must now look
beyond the Maidan, even as they keep the calls for reform alive.
I
have faith that justice, equality and freedom will prevail. They will prevail
in no small part because Ukraine’s women have been an unwavering anchor in
times of challenge. From the brave volunteers with the Maidan Medical Service
to the mothers and wives and sisters standing strong with their military family
members in Crimea just this week, the demand for human dignity is unstoppable.
Souls and bodies, we all lie down for freedom.
So today, we mark the miles Ukrainian women have traveled around the world –
but more importantly we commit to the next miles of the journey.
John Kerry is the American secretary of state.
