Achieving equal women's leadership requires bold action, resources, and a shared commitment to a just future

Participants of the training for trainers on women's political leadership. Photo: UN Women/Valentyna Naumenko

2024 was an election year. Direct presidential elections were held in 31 countries worldwide, and voter turnout was record high. However, only five women have been elected heads of state, making female political leadership more of an exception than the norm. 

Ukraine lags behind the world average in women's participation in political life at the national level. Only 22% of the Ukrainian parliament is made up of women. There are only five women in the 21-member Cabinet of Ministers. One woman heads a region, and only two women are incumbent mayors — in Poltava and Zaporizhzhia. 

To make an impact, UN Women in Ukraine trained 35 trainers in women’s political leadership and candidate preparation for elections. Participants learned effective communications, financial planning, fundraising, and election campaign management so that they could later become involved in preparing candidates to participate in the first and subsequent post-war local elections.

Maryna Perunovska, Director of Development Programs at the Center for Social Change and Behavioral Economics. Photo: UN Women/Valentyna Naumenko 

“I think we lack political education for children and youth. Girls need to be taught from childhood that they can achieve great heights and success in politics on par with men,” said Maryna Perunovska, Director of Development Programs at the Center for Social Change and Behavioral Economics. She became a deputy in the district council of the Kyiv region at the age of 22.

Yuliia Hvozdovych, Chairperson of the NGO "Parents in Action". Photo: UN Women/Valentyna Naumenko

Yuliia Hvozdovych, a former member of the Lviv City Council and now the head of the NGO "Parents in Action", emphasized: “I am a mother who wants to make the city family and child-friendly. I thought this idea could unite everyone. Instead, many people said that I should stay at home because I am a mother. This fact really angered me. But, despite everything, I managed to get support and become a deputy.”

Maryna Bublyk, Head of NGO "Association of Roma ZOR". Photo: UN Women/Valentyna Naumenko

“If there is representation of Roma in parliament, it will help overcome discrimination and solve the problems that Roma face in education, medicine, and the social sphere,” said Maryna Bublyk, Head of NGO "Association of Roma ZOR" in Chernihiv oblast. Maryna has experience running for office as a candidate and is determined to continue her advocacy for Roma's rights. Additionally, she founded a social enterprise that creates job opportunities for Roma women in the community.

Hanna Shymanska, Chairperson of the NGO "Women of Bessarabia". Photo: UN Women/Valentyna Naumenkо

“It is essential to educate women about suffrage, the workings of political systems, political parties, and principles of engagement. Additionally, it is important to focus on empowering women and enhancing their communication skills,” emphasized Hanna Shymanska, Chairperson of the NGO "Women of Bessarabia" in Odesa oblast. Hanna served as a deputy in the regional council, collaborating with youth, internally displaced persons, and local authorities. 

Karina Bulavina, Project Manager at the Charity Foundation "Building the Future Together". Photo: UN Women/Valentyna Naumenkо

Karina Bulavina is a project manager at the Charity Foundation "Building the Future Together” in Kharkiv oblast, who has over 15 years of experience in local self-government, noted: "For me as a deputy, it is important for me that people feel their lives in the community have improved. As a resident, I understood the challenges people face every day”.

Liliia Kislitsyna, President of the NGO SMARTA,  Coordinator of the 1325 Coalition Donetsk Region. Photo: UN Women/Valentyna Naumenkо

Liliia Kislitsyna, a President of the NGO SMARTA and Coordinator of the 1325 Coalition also has parliamentary experience. She was elected a local council deputy in the city of Kramatorsk, in Donetsk oblast. Today, Liliia works diligently to empower displaced women to influence decisions within host communities and offers guidance to internally displaced individuals who aspire to engage in political life: "It so happens that we live through a war, but our lives go on."

Oleksandra Vovchenko, Case Manager  NGO "FIGHT FOR RIGHT". Photo: UN Women/Valentyna Naumenkо

“It is important to empower every woman. If she wants to build a career and change Ukraine, she has every right to do so,” highlighted Oleksandra Vovchenko, Case Manager at NGO "FIGHT FOR RIGHT" in Poltava oblast. Oleksandra has experience in implementing large-scale communication campaigns aimed at empowering people with disabilities, along with experience in government institutions.

Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine. Photo: UN Women/Valentyna Naumenkо 

“Women in politics are extremely important because politics is actually power. So, it is important to ensure that women are equally represented in politics so that they can also equally share the power. Women in decision-making are extremely important also because we know that where women fully and equally participate in decision-making, the decisions at the end are more effective”, said Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine.

The initiative is implemented by UN Women in Ukraine within the framework of the projects “Transformational Approaches to Achieving Gender Equality in Ukraine”, funded by the Government of Sweden, “Strengthening Women's Leadership for Resilient and Peaceful Societies”, funded by the Government of Denmark, and “Building a Democratic, Peaceful and Gender-Equal Society in Ukraine”, funded by the Government of Norway.