On 14 October, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa took part in a conference “Gender Audit as a Tool for Gender-Responsive Recovery”, organized as part of UN Women project “Transformative Approaches to Achieving Gender Equality in Ukraine”, funded by the Swedish Government in partnership with the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine and the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service.

Presenting the progressive experience of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in implementing the principles of equality and inclusion, the Deputy Minister highlighted that ensuring gender equality is an important area of Ministry’s activity, in particular in cooperation with the UN Women structure and other international partners, as well as an integral part of modern diplomacy.

“We’re deeply convinced that affirming the principles of equality between women and men in diplomatic service is not only a matter of fairness and compliance with the European standards, but also the key to an effective and modern foreign policy”, - noted Mariana Betsa.

Deputy Minister informed participants on practical achievements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in implementing gender approach, in particular on the increase of the share of women in leadership positions in the Ministry, including among the heads of Ukrainian diplomatic missions. In 2019 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducted its first gender audit, in 2024 – the second one, and currently actively implements the recommendations based on audit results.

Mariana Betsa noted the effective implementation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, in close cooperation with civil society, of a number of significant institutional initiatives – the Ministry has a Council for Human Rights, Gender Equality and Diversity, Association “Spouses of Ukrainian diplomats”, mentorship program in the Ministry, and Women’s diplomatic club.

Deputy Minister also noted that the Ministry pays special attention to supporting family development. In partnership with UNICEF, a children’s room has been set up in the Ministry’s building to help Ukrainian diplomats balance their professional duties with raising children.