Gender aspects of mine action in Ukraine: first meeting of the initiative group

The first founding meeting of the initiative group "Gender Aspects of Mine Action in Ukraine" has taken place. The group brings together representatives of government, international organisations, operators, and civil society to develop recommendations on integrating gender perspectives into all aspects of mine action.

"Gender equality in the mine action sector is not just a matter of justice — it is a matter of efficiency. Research shows that diverse teams produce better results. The initiative group will develop specific recommendations on how to increase women's participation in the sector and ensure equal conditions for all," said Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.

At the founding meeting, participants identified the key areas of the group's work: analysis of barriers to women's participation in the sector, development of recommendations for employers, creation of training programmes adapted to the needs of different groups, and monitoring of gender indicators.

"It is important that the initiative group includes representatives of all stakeholder categories — government, operators, international organisations, and civil society. This ensures that the recommendations will be practical and meet the needs of all parties," noted the meeting co-chair.

The group plans to hold regular meetings and prepare a report with recommendations within the next six months. The recommendations will be presented to the government and partners for consideration and implementation.

"Ukraine has the opportunity to become a leader in ensuring gender equality in the mine action sector. We are already seeing an increase in the number of women working as sappers, dog handlers, and data analysts. The initiative group will help accelerate this trend," emphasised the Deputy Minister.