The conference was organized by the International Center for Policy Studies (ICPS)
During the conference participants discussed how EU gender practices may be used in Ukraine and how to make gender equality one of the values of the Ukrainian society. Another topic raised at the conference touched upon the relevance of the issue of gender equality during the armed conflict in Ukraine's east. Participants also discussed if women's participation in Ukrainian politics may facilitate reform implementation and settlement of the armed conflict.
Head of Verkhovna Rada Committee for Science and Education and co-head of Rivni Mozhlyvosti interfaction association Liliya Hrynevych stressed that women in the current parliament account for 12%. In Ukrainian history, this is the highest proportion of women in Ukrainian parliament. Even at local councils the percentage of women is lower.
Recently, a draft law on the introduction of amendments to certain legal acts of Ukraine (regarding ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men in the election process) was registered in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The aim of the draft law was to create additional conditions to ensure equal access for women and men to the decision-making process at the level of legislature and local self-governing bodies. The draft law establishes the gender ratio at not less than 30% and not more than 70% of representatives of one sex on the relevant electoral lists.
The participants of the conference also were Ambassador of Sweden to Ukraine Andreas von Beckerath; Chairman of ICPS Vasyl Filipchuk; and deputy of the Kyiv city council Nataliya Shulha.
