Politically, the group served as a nationalist organ, encouraging political unity for the betterment of all Ukrainians. Because Ukrainian women lived in a non-sovereign state, it was imperative for them to forge their gender identity along the lines of national identity. The UWU of Lviv's leadership were actively involved with the Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance, an organization designed to coordinate Ukrainian political responses in Poland. Rudnytska, as a member of the Polish Sejm worked to overcome issues such as suppression of Ukrainian language schools. To bring the case of Ukrainian nationalism to the international arena, the UWU joined such organizations as the International Council of Women, the International Woman Suffrage Alliance and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Speaking out against the 1932–1933 famine and Nazi antifeminist policies, the UWU attempted to expand women's spheres in the 1930s.