Ukrainian Ministry of Defense implements NATO standards on gender equality

The Changemakers educational program promotes the implementation of gender equality principles in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the exchange of experience with the NATO partners.

The press service of the Ministry of Defense reported on this.

As part of this initiative, representatives of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine took part in an international event in Brussels to discuss the integration of women into the military.

The Changemakers program brought together Ukrainian and foreign experts, gender advisors, policy makers and practitioners in the field of human security.

They worked to improve their knowledge and skills in gender mainstreaming, which will bring the policies and practices of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in line with NATO standards and the UN Security Council’s Women, Peace and Security Resolution.

“The Changemakers program has provided a unique opportunity to share experiences with the NATO partners. We have not only adopted best practices, but also shared our own achievements in the face of war. This will help us to implement the NATO standards more effectively, optimally utilizing the potential of both women and men in various areas of defense,” said Major Diana Kopanytsia, Head of the Humanitarian Support Department of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

Upon returning to Kyiv, the participants will present the knowledge gained to their operational management.

In particular, it is planned to conduct a gender analysis and identify institutional obstacles to the implementation of equality programs.

The participants included the representatives of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Nordic Center for Gender in Military Operations (Sweden), European Union defense agencies, and leading international organizations in the field of equal rights and opportunities for men and women.

The Changemakers program is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the PROTECT2 project, funded by the Department of National Defense of Canada and implemented by Alinea International.

Its aim is to support the Ukrainian government in building the capacity of defense sector institutions and agencies.

As previously reported, ensuring gender equality in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is part of the personnel strategy of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.