Gender education for officials: Khmelnytskyi’s experience

In Khmelnytskyi, the NGO “Warmth of Native Hearts” organised a “Gender Awareness Hub” in cooperation with the main department of the State Emergency Service in the region.

Seminars on gender equality are held at the Training and Methodological Centre for Civilian Life Safety. They are attended by representatives of local governments, educational and medical institutions, utilities, etc. All of this is part of the activities of the 1325 Khmelnytskyi Coalition, a network that brings together implementers and stakeholders in the implementation of the National Action Plan for the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security until 2025.

This is the first time in Ukraine that training in this format has been conducted in this way, says Lesia Steblo, head of the Warmth of Native Hearts NGO.

“We have a group of experts. We have developed an information seminar that covers the concept of gender equality, and we also talk about feminisms. We also talk about the importance of international documents on women’s rights, such as UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, the Istanbul Convention, and the activities of the 1325 Khmelnytskyi Coalition, so that the audience understands how relevant this topic is and how it is a good tool for change in all areas,” explains Lesia Steblo.

About 500 professionals have already taken part in the seminars.

“I thought that more people would be aware of this topic, but among the participants of the seminars – representatives of law enforcement agencies, civil protection services, local governments – there are many who have heard about the UN Security Council resolution on Women, Peace and Security for the first time. We are talking about what we can do now not only within our country or within the region. And where they see themselves as implementers of this document, in their community or institution,” says Lesia Steblo.

The head of the Khmelnytsky Training and Methodological Centre for Civil Protection of the Population is Colonel of the Civil Protection Service, PhD in Law Alyona Mul. She is the only woman in this position in Ukraine.

“We teach civil defence, life safety, first aid and fire training to all categories of regional officials. On average, about 3,500 officials undergo advanced training at our centre in one year. These include school principals, heads of territorial communities, regional and district administrations. It was based on the specifics of the educational institution that we came up with the idea of creating a gender education hub,” said Aliona Mul.

The Centre allocated a room and renovated it. And the Ukrainian Women’s Fund helped to purchase equipment: a multimedia projector, a screen, and furniture.

“At the very beginning of the work, there was quite a bit of a cautious attitude. I was a little worried about how it would be perceived. When the trainers came in and we discussed the topic, the audience was more closed. Now people already know about the seminars and we are often asked: “When will there be gender training?”. Both men and women are active during the seminars. There are many questions and discussions. Unfortunately, a lot of officials, especially from such a rural area, hear about many of the issues raised during the information sessions for the first time,” adds the colonel.

Over the course of the project, only two men have so far refused gender education.