The link between women’s empowerment and the fight against corruption is crucial to understanding how to promote a more equitable and resilient society. Gender equality is not only an ethical principle but also an agent for progress and social well-being. In particular, active involvement of women in decision-making spheres significantly contributes to promoting more effective measures and building a stronger society. Women can act as catalysts for cultural change, promoting transparency, integrity, and accountability at all levels of society. Gender diversity in leadership positions contributes to creating a more balanced environment. While reservations persist, for example, regarding female involvement in key roles within the armed forces, it is widely demonstrated that women show greater attention to soldiers’ safety and more prudent management of operations. This competence must be recognized and encouraged, overcoming cultural barriers and promoting more active female participation in all decision-making spheres. Addressing such stereotypes and prejudices is essential to ensuring authentic progress towards a fairer and stronger society.
In conflict situations, women face specific risks related to gender-based violence and discrimination. What is your assessment of the situation of women in Ukraine during this period, especially regarding gender-based violence?
Women in Ukraine are immersed in a complex and troubled reality, which requires urgent and in-depth responses. Gender-based violence has been used as a weapon of war by Russia, with horrific testimonies from liberated territories and the front lines. This form of violence is not simply a collateral result of the conflict but represents a deliberate and cruel strategy, with devastating consequences for the women involved. Atrocities include harassment, abductions, and systematic abuse. Women, including enlisted personnel, live in constant fear not only of losing their lives on the battlefield but also of being taken hostage and subjected to unspeakable horrors. Psychological violence and sexual abuse perpetrated by the Russian army have inflicted deep wounds, the invisible scars of which extend beyond the battlefield, generating lasting impacts on society. Addressing these traumas requires timely and targeted intervention, providing adequate support to affected women. Only then will it be possible to mitigate the long-term effects of this war.
What are your reflections on the role of women in promoting a better world, and how can we collaborate to achieve this shared goal?
The need for actions to ensure gender equality is pressing, not only in Ukraine but globally. Women are champions in promoting a free world, and the ongoing war has made their role in building a better future even more urgent. There must be greater presence of women in the defense and security sector, especially at high decision-making levels. I believe this will help make the world a safer and fairer place.
AICS is committed in Ukraine to various initiatives to protect women and promote gender equality, providing psychological support to conflict victims and promoting women’s empowerment at all levels of society. Additionally, it is active in the field of anti-corruption, contributing to the “Ukraine Country Programme” of the OECD, which aims to specifically support the strengthening of the rule of law and anti-corruption initiatives.
