Tatiana Kovalchuk: Gender policy is the creation of a number of opportunities for the realization of the rights of everyone
On April 3-4, the training module “Equality between women and men at the center of security and defense sector reform” took place within the framework of the project “Champpions - 100”, launched in 2017 with the assistance of the NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine in cooperation with the Government Office for the Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.
Among the speakers of the module were Special Representative of NATO Secretary General for Women, Peace and Security Claire Hutchinson, Head of the NATO-Ukraine Programme for Professional Development Ove Urup-Madsen, Government Commissioner for Gender Policy Kateryna Levchenko, Deputy Minister of the Interior Ukraine Tetiana Kovalchuk, Deputy Director of the National Democratic Institute Ian Woodward.
The participants of the gender module together with the speakers discussed issues aimed at promoting gender equality in the security and defense sector.
Government Commissioner for Gender Policy Ekaterina Levchenko outlined the state of implementation of the gender component in the central executive bodies, and also focused on the challenges and responsibilities that today face everyone involved in the implementation of gender policy.
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Tetiana Kovalchuk noted that the “Champions 100” project is unique for the security sector, as it enhances the competence and professional skills of law enforcement officers, which are important for the implementation of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration policy.
“Security and security have a gender component, and therefore women must be included in dialogues concerning peace. There can be no protection without the right to participate,” said NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security Claire Hutchinson.
Also, the Special Representative of NATO Secretary General for Women, Peace and Security Claire Hutchinson during her speech stressed: “A year ago I visited the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and today I can say that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has made great progress in introducing the gender component in the security sector. This is extremely gratifying and stimulating to deepen cooperation to develop best practices in the security sector.”
During the session “Gender equality in the Ukrainian security sector” Tetiana Kovalchuk spoke about the main achievements that took place in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and the central executive bodies, highlighted the methodology for the implementation of the gender component, and also emphasized the importance of including the gender aspect in security sector.
In addition, on the eve of the training module, on April 2, Tatiana Kovalchuk met with NATO Special Representative Claire Hutchinson and Head of NATO Delegation to Ukraine Alexander Vinnikov.
During the meeting, further joint steps and support of the NATO Delegation in Ukraine to implement gender policy in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were discussed.
“Gender policy for us is not just a “policy about a woman or a man”, about their roles and granting rights for their realization, it is first of all creating a number of opportunities for the realization of the rights of everyone,” Tatiana Kovalchuk noted.
The Head of the NATO Mission in Ukraine Alexander Vinnikov noted that he is ready to support the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the implementation of gender policy, as there is a positive result, and this further confirms the importance of continued cooperation.
Currently, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is undergoing a reform path, and during this period cooperation with NATO and strengthening the principle of equal rights and opportunities for women and men is an important part of the efforts of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine. In the security sector, there are gender shifts that will help improve sensitivity to the problems of the citizens they serve and increase the operational efficiency and professional competence of each law enforcement officer.
Photo by Andriy Novitsky
