Campaign to Increase Women's Civic Participation
Women's Leadership in Peace and Security
challenge
Russia's war threatens women's lives and rights in Ukraine.
The female population of Ukraine faces serious challenges as a result of Russia's full-scale invasion. Ukraine now ranks 117th in the Women Peace and Security Index for 2023-2024, up from 66th. The index concerns the threat of violence, economic insecurity, and forced migration that endangers the lives and rights of Ukrainian women.
According to the Ministry of Social Policy, by the end of 2023, 4.9 million Ukrainian citizens will be classified as IDPs (internally displaced persons), - a large number being women. In May 2022, NGO Internews Ukraine conducted a study on the challenges faced by young women during the war, with the support of UN Women and the findings were alarming. Young women encountered challenges such as:
- exclusion from local decision-making;
- lack of security due to violence;
- economic vulnerability;
- limited access to information
Despite the challenges, there are women in Ukraine who are actively involved in public life and have achieved notable success. Consider human rights activist Oleksandra Matviychuk, who leads the Center for Civil Liberties and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. Another example is Yulia Sachuk, who leads Fight for Rights, an organisation that advocates for the rights of people with disabilities.
They, along with hundreds of other women, serve as examples for those who have the potential for activism but have yet to realize it, particularly in conflict prevention, resolution, peacebuilding, and post-conflict reconstruction. Women can make a significant contribution in these areas, as emphasized in UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
solution
Hearing women and giving them the tools for civic engagement
With support from UN Women in Ukraine, we implemented the project 'Strengthening the Capacity of Youth and Women's CSOs in Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping'.
Initially, in collaboration with Info Sapiens, we conducted research on the needs of young Ukrainian women, which confirmed previous findings. Many people expressed concern about their limited participation in local decision-making and security issues. Experts made recommendations based on the findings of this analysis.
We then organised training sessions in Chernihiv, Sumy, Dnipro, and Kropyvnytskyi. Participants gained insights into UN resolutions aimed at increasing civic engagement among women and youth, as well as techniques to promote mental health. In addition, educational sessions in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Kropyvnytskyi focused on violence reduction and prevention strategies.
As part of the project, we developed a map that highlights 22 NGOs in four target regions: Chernihiv, Kirovohrad, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia. Sixteen activists from these areas travelled to Lviv to share their experiences with other initiatives.
Organisations competed for mini-grants, selecting eight initiatives to promote women's activism, combat violence, and raise awareness of UN resolutions on Women, Peace, and Security and Youth, Peace, and Security.
Along with the grant, NGO representatives received training from Internews Ukraine experts on how to effectively engage with bloggers and promote their work on social media.
One beneficiary, the S. Khorobyi Regiment Charitable Foundation in Kropyvnytskyi, used project funds to organise art therapy classes, psychological counselling, and business leader meetings for military wives. They also organised a photo shoot and exhibition for the participants.
Several organisations provided training for girls and young women. The Olvia Production Centre hosted sessions on women's activism and healthy relationships, while NGO Alexandra and S focused on women's leadership, gender-based violence prevention, and HIV. Kirovohrad residents met with successful Ukrainian women as part of a project organised by the NGO Energy of Youth. They received training in communication skills, CV writing, and social media. The First Adult Education Center assisted women in learning new skills through the programme "Freelancing is your path to success." "Be independent and confident!"
As part of the project, Internews Ukraine launched a communication campaign featuring prominent figures such as TV host Yana Brenzey, Wild Theatre director Yaroslava Kravchenko, writer Olha Kotrus, and bloggers Leonid Martynchyk, and Emma Antoniuk. These influencers shared their personal stories and experiences, which motivated them to actively advocate for women's rights.
They also provided advice to those beginning their public journey. Leonid Martynchyk, in particular, demonstrated how men can support women's movements and advocate for equality, reflecting a global trend toward human dignity that should be adopted as the norm in Ukraine.
Divoche.media, an online magazine, and the popular YouTube channel Palaye have also joined the collaboration. The hosts of the latter reminded us of the importance of women's participation in decision-making and how Ukrainian women can play a larger role in this sector of society.
In two video displays, we explained the essence of the Women, Peace, and Security resolution as well as how women can protect their rights on a daily basis, both at work and in everyday life.
Three media projects were featured in the regional media outlets Hrechka, Cheline, and 061.ua. The articles highlighted women's initiatives in the Kirovohrad region, the experience of activists from Zaporizhzhia fighting for their rights, and the civic activities of Chernihiv region residents.
results
Ukrainian women's voices resonated nearly one million times
The project team reached more than 900,000 people by effectively communicating about women's rights and opportunities.
NGOs awarded mini-grants successfully implemented their projects. 100% of participants in NGO Energy of Youth's social media and media training reported increased knowledge in these areas. Furthermore, the photo exhibition organised by the S. Khorobyi Regiment was broadcast nationwide during the United News telethon.
A total of 167 Ukrainians participated in training on UN programs, mental health, and violence prevention. Feedback indicated high satisfaction with the outcomes, with participants expressing intent to apply their newfound knowledge in everyday life. Awareness of UN resolutions on Women, Peace and Security and Youth, Peace and Security notably increased among attendees. For example, prior to training in Chernihiv, only 43% of participants correctly answered questions about these resolutions, while this rose to 69% after the completion of training.
Influencer videos generated 266,252 organic views, with one video on Palayev's YouTube channel reaching 58,000 views.
Media projects featured on regional publication websites attracted 6,379 reads and 344,558 impressions on Instagram pages. Additionally, two video displays collectively amassed 235,000 views.