The debates conducted with the participation of Ukrainian parliamentarians, representatives of executive bodies and NATO member countries' ambassadors were dedicated to the role of women in implementation of reforms and remarkable changes in the Ukrainian society.
The participants in the meeting agreed that Ukraine has managed to succeed in gender equality matters and that Ukrainian women have actually started finding themselves in all sectors of social life.
"New women reformers are born by the war itself. During the Maidan events, about 45% of all participants were women. Almost 20,000 women are currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine," Iryna Heraschenko noted. She added that the Donbas conflict triggered many changes within the society, in particular, active involvement of women in peacekeeping processes, restoration of peace and reformation of the country.
Iryna Heraschenko noted that the greatest problem is unacceptably low representation of women in the law enforcement bodies. She criticized absence of any influence of women on decisions in the field of national security and defense of Ukraine.
Iryna Heraschenko noted that of 20,000 military women, only 2,500 have officer ranks.
She said that enhancement of parliamentary control over the field of national security and defense should be among the priorities.
Ambassadors of the NATO member countries agreed that Ukrainian women-politicians do actively work over restoration of peace and return of illegally occupied territories and have to play a bigger role in decision-making process within Ukrainian law enforcement bodies. The NATO member countries are ready to support the changes in these sector institutionally, organizationally and financially.
Other participants in the meeting were members of the Ukrainian Parliament Mariya Ionova, Iryna Lutsenko and Olha Bohomolets, British Ambassador to Ukraine Judith Gough, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch and Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine Alexander Vinnikov.