The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and UN Women deepen cooperation to build a gender-responsive diplomatic service
Date:
44 representatives of the diplomatic service took part in a series of online and offline training sessions titled "Tools for Integrating a Gender Approach into the Work of Diplomatic Service Bodies". Photo: UN Women/Dmytro Sokolovskyi
Kyiv, June 2025 — In the context of fulfilling national and international commitments to gender equality, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (MFA) continues its active efforts to integrate a gender-responsive approach into the system of diplomatic service bodies. A significant step in this direction was the implementation of a special short-term educational program, developed in line with the recommendations of the second gender audit.
In collaboration with the MFA, the Hennadii Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine, UN Women in Ukraine, and with financial support from Sweden, a series of online and offline training sessions titled "Tools for Integrating a Gender Approach into the Work of Diplomatic Service Bodies" took place in June as part of the program mentioned above. The training covered both the MFA's central office and foreign diplomatic missions.
A total of 44 representatives of the diplomatic service acquired new knowledge, strengthened their gender competencies, and gained practical skills in applying gender-responsive tools. This marks another step toward building a gender-responsible and truly inclusive diplomatic system.
Strong Partnership for Equality
The event was opened by:
- Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine
- Mariana Betsa, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
- Tetiana Sybiha, Co-founder of the Ukrainian Diplomats’ Spouses Association
- Hennadii Nadolenko, Director of the Hennadii Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine
Ten professional trainers, including national and international experts from UN Women, contributed to the training program.
Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine. Photo: UN Women/Dmytro Sokolovskyi
“UN Women is deeply grateful for its steadfast partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Since establishing our presence in Ukraine in 2016, we have built a strong and productive collaboration, both on the ground and at the global level. From close cooperation in-country to Ukraine’s leadership within the UN Women Executive Board, the Ministry has consistently demonstrated a firm commitment to gender equality and international cooperation. We are honored to stand alongside such dedicated partners and proud to support this joint initiative. Empowering the next generation of diplomats is a shared priority, and UN Women is proud to contribute to this important endeavor,” said Sabine Freizer Gunes.
Gender Equality as a Priority of State Policy
Mariana Betsa, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Photo: UN Women/Dmytro Sokolovskyi
“Gender equality is not just a principle but a state policy priority for Ukraine, the government, and the MFA. We integrate gender perspectives into foreign policy, and this training is a practical confirmation of our efforts. We thank UN Women for their support in driving change. Since 2014, Ukraine has been committed to gender equality through the Sustainable Development Goals, the Beijing Declaration, and UN Security Council Resolution 1325. We strive for equal access to decision-making and professional development without discrimination. The MFA was among the first to conduct a gender audit, and last year’s results showed progress, including an increase in the number of women ambassadors to 22%. We’re acting on the recommendations with concrete steps like this training course. Gender competence is a key component of professionalism in today’s diplomatic service. Numerous initiatives now support women’s leadership, including events of the MFA Women's Club, which foster mutual support for women pursuing self-realization and professional growth in diplomacy. The Ukrainian Diplomats’ Spouses Association also plays a crucial role, becoming a symbol of ‘soft power’ in building modern Ukrainian diplomacy through new humanitarian, cultural, and educational initiatives,” emphasized Mariana Betsa.
Empowerment and New Initiatives
Tetiana Sybiha, Co-founder of the Ukrainian Diplomats’ Spouses Association. Photo: UN Women/Illia Nosyk
“My sincere thanks to the organizers for this extremely important and timely initiative. Gender issues are key to building a modern diplomatic service, and the Ukrainian Diplomats’ Spouses Association is a vivid example. Our platform embraces not only women’s leadership, but we also strive for systemic change. A particularly significant project is ‘Women in Diplomacy’, which includes two volumes of personal stories, essays, and interviews with Ukrainian women diplomats and diplomats’ spouses, highlighting their contributions to shaping foreign policy. We are witnessing real results in the transformation of our diplomatic service, and these changes deserve to be documented and supported. We are a team actively promoting Ukraine on the global stage while defending European values and effectively countering Russian aggression,” said Tetiana Sybiha.
Gender Balance as a New Standard
Hennadii Nadolenko, Director of the Hennadii Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine. Photo: UN Women/Dmytro Sokolovskyi
“Thanks to the support of our partners and team, we successfully organized these training sessions. I’m especially pleased that this year they are gender-balanced, which reflects our joint progress toward equality. I’m grateful to the MFA for their efforts in this direction. I hope the training inspires participants and opens new opportunities for their future,” stated Hennadii Nadolenko.
UN Women in Ukraine extends its heartfelt thanks to all partners involved in initiatives that strengthen institutional capacity and contribute to building a more just, safe, and inclusive society.