Національна академія внутрішніх справ

On March 25, the National Academy of Internal Affairs hosted an online international scientific-practical conference "Understanding masculinity and gender equality in the security sector of Ukraine and presenting the results of the study", where the results of the international research "Understanding of masculinity and gender equality in the security sector of Ukraine" were published. The research is based on the methodology of IMAGES (International Men and Gender Equality Study), which was adapted to the context of the security sector of Ukraine.

This first unique study in Ukraine was initiated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and conducted in partnership with UN Women, the international non-governmental organization PROMUNDO, the National Academy of Internal Affairs and the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, with the support of the governments of Sweden and Norway.

The event was attended by representatives of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, National Academy of Internal Affairs, National Police, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, National Guard of Ukraine, Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, non-governmental organization "PROMUNDO" (USA), UN-Women in Ukraine, The Embassies of Sweden and Norway in Ukraine, Committee on Law Enforcement Activities of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Kyiv City State Administration, as well as scientific and scientific-pedagogical staff of higher education and research institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, etc.

It is important to note that in the educational process, research, vocational training of various groups of the National Police and other central executive bodies, whose activities are directed and coordinated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, with the support of international partners, various activities covering gender issues are implemented.

Opening the conference, the Rector of the Academy Volodymyr Cherniei noted that the Academy, within its competence, fully promotes the reform of the country's security sector with the priority of ensuring gender equality. This study is the first one in Ukraine, covering more than one and a half thousand employees of the National Police, the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service in Luhansk and Donetsk regions (in the area of Joint Forces Operation) and the capital region. The implementation of research recommendations on solving problems in the field of gender relations in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine requires joint efforts of scientists, educators, government officials, heads of interested agencies, foreign and international partners and the public.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Kateryna Pavlichenko noted that the research allowed to form an idea of the national masculinity culture in the security sector and to take real steps to create an effective gender policy. She thanked participants and expressed confidence that the recommendations of the study and the developed action plan will contribute to the development and implementation of best practices, taking into account the principle of equal rights and opportunities for women and men.

In her speech, the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy Kateryna Levchenko pointed out that the implementation of the principle of gender equality, achieving equal rights and opportunities for women and men will contribute to the implementation of a unified state policy in the field of security and defense of Ukraine. She stressed that the results and recommendations of the study will be used to implement gender-oriented strategies in the security sector, the formation of appropriate programs to improve the competence and capacity of employees in this area, and to implement the second National Action Plan of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 "Women, Peace, Security" for the period up to 2025.

Olha Siedova, Coordinator of Cooperation Projects of the Swedish Embassy in Ukraine, noted that Ukraine is one of the countries selected to be financed for creation of gender research projects. She suggested continuing cooperation and media partnership to further promote gender equality in Ukraine.

In his speech, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Norway to Ukraine Eric Swedal pointed out the importance of conducting research on gender issues. The Norwegian government's funding for this project is to support Ukraine in implementing gender equality, including preventing and combating gender discrimination. The ambassador gave illustrative examples of the successful implementation of a gender-balanced approach in the Kingdom of Norway, where vast majority of the parliament are represented by women.

UN-Women Representative in Ukraine Erika Kvapilova declares her support for progress in satisfying the requirements of women in the security and defense sector of Ukraine. She also expressed confidence in the success of further implementation of research results in the practical activities for the security sector in the field of gender equality and women's empowerment in Ukraine.

In his presentation, Brian Heilman, Senior Research Fellow at Promundo USA, emphasized the importance for the further development of gender equality in Ukraine's security sector. He also introduced the features of the international methodology IMAGES (International Men and Gender Equality Study), which was adapted to the context of the security sector of Ukraine. Mr. Brian covered the data in sufficient detail, which testifies not only to the existence of real gender problems, but also to the already implemented steps to solve them in Ukraine.

During the presentation of scientific research results, Serhii Cherniavskyi, Vice-Rector of National Academy of Internal Affairs, stressed on the need to implement results to improve the legal framework, organizational and personnel work, scientific and methodological activities, educational process and psychological support of gender competence.

Based on the results of the discussion, specific organizational decisions on the further direction of work on the formation of gender competence of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine were made.

National Academy of Internal Affairs is grateful to all those, who contributed to the study, as well as to the development of recommendations for creating equality for men and women in the security sector. We hope that this event will be the beginning of joint activities in the field of implementation of the equal rights principle and gender relations in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

More details on the conference materials can be found at the following link.

Unit for the Organization of Scientific Activity
and Protection of Intellectual Property Rights, NAIA