The information and educational forum “Modern trends in ensuring gender balance in the conditions of European integration” was devoted to the discussion of topical issues of the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, combating discrimination based on gender, as well as gender equality in Ukraine in the context of European integration aspirations.
The event was attended by the representatives of the state authorities and local municipality, judicial authorities, law enforcement bodies, scientific and higher education institutions from different regions of Ukraine, the EU Consultative Mission in Ukraine, the YurFem Analytical Center of the Association of Women Lawyers of Ukraine “YurFem”, MFI ” Equal opportunities”, public organizations – “La Strada – Ukraine”, “Strategy of the future”, “Territory of success”, Information and advisory women’s center and SCC “Zadzerkallia”.
The forum was held in an online and offline formats. The participants discussed the role of women and public organizations in building civil society in Ukraine, the institutionalization of gender education as one of the factors in the formation of a gender-sensitive environment, and other issues of building a gender-balanced society.
Oleksandr Kurakin, the dean of the Faculty of Law, Management and Economic Security, opened the informational and educational forum and welcomed the participants on behalf of the rector of the DonSUIA Serhii Vitvitskyi. He noted that the formation of a gender outlook through the system of education and enlightenment acquires special importance in the conditions of martial law. The full-scale war showed that the stability and further post-war reconstruction and development of Ukraine requires equal involvement of both women and men in all spheres of life. This is confirmed by statistical indicators that demonstrate current policy of the Donetsk State University of Internal Affairs in matters of gender balance.
“The Strategy for the implementation of gender equality in the field of education until 2030” adopted by the Government is a key vector for the development of the future generation based on the principles of equality, because equal rights and freedoms are key European values. Consolidation of our efforts will be another step towards joint Victory and determination of ways to restore Ukraine after the war,” said Oleksandr Kurakin.
Among the speakers were Kateryna Koltunova, Deputy Chief of the Kirovohrad Regional Military Administration; Elza Leshchenko, Head of the Department of Education and Science of the Kirovohrad Regional Military Administration; Viacheslav Gurskyi, Head of the Department of Youth and Sports of the Kropyvnytskyi City Council; Deputy Head of the Human Rights Monitoring Department – Head of the Gender Equality Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Olga Perunova; member of the Scientific Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, deputy head of the Department of Personnel Support of the National Police of Ukraine – head of the professional training department Serhii Tereshchenko; gender adviser of the EU Consultative Mission in Ukraine Anne Maki-Rakhkola; Yulia Tsurkalenko, scholarship holder of the “Volswagen” Foundation of the Institute of Eastern European Law in Regensburg (Germany); Oleg Yaroshenko, vice-rector of Yaroslav the Wise National Law University, corresponding member of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine; Oleksandr Muzychuk, vice-rector of the Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs; Dean of the Faculty of Law of the Eastern Ukrainian National University named after Volodymyr Dal Olena Arsentieva; Dmytro Sirokha, Acting Head of the Department of Labor Law and Social Security Law of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Law of Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University.
Kateryna Koltunova, Deputy Head of the Kirovohrad Regional Military Administration, outlined the relevance of the issues discussed at the forum: “When people say today that it is not the right time to deal with gender issues, combating domestic violence, and protecting women this is not correct. We must understand that simultaneously with protection of the country, we are also fighting for the accession to the European Union, for the recognition of Ukraine as a European state.”
Elza Leshchenko, Head of the Department of Education and Science of the Kirovohrad Regional Military Administration, noted: “Education, today, is the most influential factor that determines the direction and perspective of the economic, political and cultural life of the society. Despite state gender reform, education remains insufficiently sensitive to the issues of gender equality and discrimination in general. We, educators, understand this. First of all, it is necessary to change the internal state of society and move away from stereotypes.”
In total, the organizing committee of the forum received more than 100 theses, from 30 doctors and 40 candidates of sciences including. Based on the results of the forum, a resolution will be formed, which will include scientific conclusions and legislative proposals suggested by the participants in their theses and reports, which were covered during the plenary session.
The forum was organized by teachers of the Department of Civil, Labor and Social Security Law of the Faculty of Law, Management and Economic Security with the support of the NGO “Association of Women Lawyers of Ukraine “YurFem” and the NGO “Strategy of the Future”.
The DonSUIA administration thanks the participants of the informational and educational forum for their fruitful work and hopes that the event will contribute to the development of the democratic society and outline new ways to strengthen Ukrainian statehood in the conditions of martial law.
