A roundtable dedicated to the International Day for Women’s Rights and Peace and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 “Women, Peace and Security” in the region was recently held at the Department of Social Protection of the Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration. The event was attended by Olha Donets, Head of the NGO Grassroots Institute, who joined the professional discussion on key aspects of implementing national and regional policies related to gender equality, women’s empowerment, and the development of a safe environment in the context of wartime challenges.
The roundtable brought together representatives of state authorities, local self-government bodies, civil society organizations, the expert community, and other partners working to implement the principles of Resolution 1325 at the regional level. The main objective of the meeting was to review the results of the regional action plan, assess its effectiveness, and identify priority areas for further work.
UN Security Council Resolution 1325 “Women, Peace and Security,” adopted in 2000, is one of the key international instruments aimed at ensuring women’s participation in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, recovery, and security processes. It also promotes the protection of women’s rights during conflicts and the strengthening of gender-responsive policies in the field of security. In Ukraine, the implementation of this resolution is carried out through national and regional action plans that include a wide range of initiatives in the areas of social support, human rights protection, community development, and strengthening societal resilience.
One of the central topics of discussion was the effectiveness of the regional action plan and the financial resources allocated for its implementation. It was noted that over the past three years, funding for related initiatives in Zakarpattia has increased significantly – from UAH 2 million to more than UAH 18 million. This demonstrates growing attention to gender equality, community support, and social initiatives at the regional level.
The increased allocation of resources enables the implementation of new programs aimed at supporting women, developing social services, and strengthening community resilience in the challenging conditions of wartime.
Another important part of the discussion focused on the development of a new regional action plan until 2030, which will take into account contemporary challenges related to the war, community recovery, and post-war reconstruction.
Participants discussed potential directions for the development of regional policy, including:
During the event, new opportunities for civil society organizations were also presented. In particular, the launch of a call for proposals for social and veteran-oriented projects was announced:
The projects are expected to follow a co-financing model, where 85% of the funding is provided by the regional administration and 15% by the civil society organization. These programs aim to support local initiatives, strengthen civil society, and create new opportunities for implementing socially significant projects.
For the Grassroots Institute, participation in such initiatives is an important part of the organization’s ongoing work in the fields of human rights, civil society development, gender equality, and sustainable community development. We believe that active participation of civil society organizations in shaping and implementing public policy contributes to greater effectiveness, transparency, and responsiveness to the needs of communities.
Women’s leadership and expertise play a particularly important role in this process and are key factors in strengthening the resilience of Ukrainian society. Women’s participation in decision-making, community development, and social initiatives contributes to building a more inclusive, safe, and equitable environment.
The Grassroots Institute will continue to actively participate in initiatives aimed at implementing the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, supporting communities, and strengthening partnerships between civil society, public authorities, and international partners. We believe that sustainable development and resilience of communities can only be achieved through cooperation, open dialogue, and support for local initiatives.
✨ Women’s leadership means professionalism, responsibility, and the ability to transform challenges into opportunities for development.
For more information, visit our website www.tgi.org.ua
