22 April 2016, 13:56
On April 21, members of the IFDA Equal Opportunities, People’s Deputies Maria Ionova, Iryna Lutsenko and Iryna Fryz participated in the round table entitled "Gender policy in the Armed Forces of Ukraine."
The event was held at the initiative of the Equal Opportunities and Ukraine – the Euro-Atlantic Space interfactional deputy associations with the support of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The round table was attended by Chief of the General Staff Viktor Muzhenko, senior officers and servicewomen, who arrived directly from the military units, representatives of international organizations Nurgul Asylbekova, Oksana Kiseliova, Yelena Suslova (UN Women) and Irina Sukhinina (OSCE / ODIHR).
At the meeting they spoke about professional opportunities for women in the Armed Forces, namely, the issue of limited opportunities for choosing career in accordance with the orders of the Ministry of Defence Nos. 412 and 337.
The People's Deputies noted that the problem is in non-conformance of the official status of military servicewomen to their real duties. For example, a servicewoman being a sniper on the frontline, is listed in official documents as a clerk. Military servicewomen confirmed the information and said that it is important that women have the right to choose profession and corresponding official status. It was also emphasized that this problem significantly limits the opportunities for further career growth.
Particular attention during the discussion was paid to the role of women in peace talks under the UN Security Council Resolution No. 1325 “Women. Peace. Security." Iryna Lutsenko said that exactly servicewomen on the frontline like anyone else, should be involved in the organization of peace processes. They will be able to effectively collaborate and negotiate with the population in the occupied territories.
The servicewomen said that having joined the contractual service, they "did not demand special conditions. Important was just victory and the Motherland. But the only thing we are asking for is that the official status correspond to the reality, and not be listed as a clerk or a seamstress."
Representatives of international organizations shared international practices in the integration of women into military formations and their involvement in peace processes. The experts pointed to the readiness to cooperate and give consultations on implementation of effective gender policy in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Representatives of the General Staff noted that the range of military professions is gradually expanding corresponding to the current needs. Taking into account the comments and arguments made at the meeting, the General Staff of the Armed Forces and the participants of the discussion agreed to complete the procedure of making amendments within a month.
Senior military officers also made a proposal to create a special unit in charge of women in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, preparation of mechanisms for preventing gender discrimination and ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men.
Taking into consideration that the expansion of professional opportunities for women requires interagency coordination, people’s deputies of the Equal Opportunities and Ukraine - the Euro-Atlantic Space" IFDAs have taken under personal control coordination of amendments to the orders of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, prepared by the General Staff in the relevant ministries and agencies.
Concluding the meeting, General Viktor Muzhenko said: "Equal opportunities mean equal rights and equal responsibilities!"