She Leads Ukraine Forum: Ukrainian women leaders shape the future of political participation and recovery

Over 120 participants from all regions of Ukraine took part in the She Leads Ukraine forum. Photo: UN Women/Serhii Piriiev

On 28 November 2025, the She Leads Ukraine Forum took place in Kyiv as part of UN Women’s broad initiative to advance women’s leadership and political participation. The event brought together more than 120 participants from all regions of Ukraine, including graduates of the training programme, certified trainers, experts, representatives of government institutions, embassies, and partner governments.

The Forum became a key milestone of the She Leads Ukraine initiative, creating a space for exchange, mutual support, and professional development. Its main goal is to promote women’s engagement in decision-making, ensure access to up-to-date knowledge on political processes, and provide practical tools for effective leadership.

The Forum opened with remarks from:

• Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine
• Olena Kondratiuk, Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
• Viktoriia Hlushchenko, Member of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine
• Lars Olaf Søvndal Petersen, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Denmark in Ukraine
• Elsa Håstad, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine
• Mateja Prevolšek, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Slovenia to Ukraine

Sabine Freizer Gunes highlighted the scale of the She Leads Ukraine initiative, noting that nearly 35 trainers and almost 500 women have already been trained across the country. She stressed that supporting women in politics is a long-term process, and the current efforts mark only the beginning.

Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine. Photo: UN Women/Serhii Piriiev

Viktoriia Hlushchenko emphasized the essential role of women in Ukraine’s future post-war elections, underscoring the importance of their participation as candidates, electoral commissioners, observers, and voters.

Viktoriia Hlushchenko, Member of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine. Photo: UN Women/Serhii Piriiev

In her video address, Olena Kondratiuk also stressed that women’s leadership must translate into real political influence, as participation in decision-making determines who shapes the country’s future.

Olena Kondratiuk, Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Photo: UN Women/Serhii Piriiev

Elsa Håstad reaffirmed Sweden’s long-standing support for advancing women’s leadership in Ukraine. She underlined that joint efforts by government, civil society, and business aim to create conditions in which women feel protected, have a voice, and confidently take on leadership roles.

Elsa Håstad, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine. Photo: UN Women/Serhii Piriiev

Forum participants were also addressed by Tetyana Berezhna, Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy – Minister of Culture of Ukraine; Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden; and Marie Bjerre, Minister for European Affairs of Denmark. They emphasized the need for women’s political participation in recovery and EU integration processes.

Research: The war has transformed women’s political participation

Political scientists Andriana Kostenko and Oksana Yarosh presented the initial findings of research conducted in October and November 2025 within the She Leads Ukraine initiative.

Key trends include:

• Increased role of women in crisis management and community support.
• Expanded functions and responsibilities of women in local governance.
• Need to secure new opportunities for political participation institutionally.
• Increased visibility of women, though not always increased political recognition.

The speakers stressed: the war has broadened women’s roles, but the political system must acknowledge and integrate these changes.

Presentation of preliminary findings of a study on the impact of war on women's participation in political processes in Ukraine. Photo: UN Women/Serhii Piriiev

Panel discussion: women’s leadership as a foundation for community resilience

A panel moderated by journalist Oleh Paniuta brought together women leaders from executive and local authorities across Ukraine, including Yana Litvinova, Mayor of Starobilsk (Luhansk region); Rehina Kharchenko, Acting Mayor of Zaporizhzhia; and Maryna Khonda, Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration. They shared their experiences leading communities during wartime, from supporting internally displaced people to responding to threats and maintaining critical infrastructure.

Panel discussion titled “She Leads Communities – She Leads Ukraine.” Photo: UN Women/Serhii Piriiev

Practical sessions

In the second half of the day, four parallel practical sessions were held.

• Women’s Leadership in European Political Institutions: international cooperation, city-level advocacy, and women’s roles in European institutions.
• Electoral legislation and election preparation: new trends in electoral law and opportunities for women in the post-war period.
• Political communications and SMM: digital communication tools, message development, and audience engagement.
• Mental health in political activity: stress management, burnout prevention, and sustaining resilience during political campaigns.

Trainers of She Leads Ukraine also joined a separate session dedicated to reviewing the training curriculum and planning future activities. At the same time, participants had the opportunity to meet and speak with Olena Shuliak and Mariia Mezentseva-Fedorchenko, Members of Parliament of Ukraine.

Political Declaration of Women Leaders

The Forum concluded with the presentation of the Political Declaration of Women Leaders, prepared by graduates of the She Leads Ukraine initiative. The document reaffirms their commitment to active political engagement, mutual support, and expanding women’s representation at all levels of government.

Photo: UN Women/Serhii Piriiev

She Leads Ukraine is implemented by UN Women in Ukraine in partnership with the Women’s Consortium of Ukraine and the Bureau of Gender Strategies and Budgeting, in cooperation with the Central Election Commission of Ukraine and the Equal Opportunities Caucus of the Verkhovna Rada, with financial support from the governments of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.