Studies
Advancing Gender Equality in Security and Defense Reform in Ukraine – 2022
The findings of the review of the Verkhovna Rada Committees within the legislative architecture on security and defense reform reveal that legislative and policy commitments have progressed. Although this is a good finding, meaningful implementation and oversight remain limited. The data identifies a clear gap in the practical efforts of the Committees to take gender into account and advance gender equality. This gap is mirrored in the attitudes and beliefs of some Committee members and Secretariat staff. These individuals report that gender is sufficiently addressed, while not being a necessary consideration in most cases. Therefore, gender is not taken into account on a consistent basis.
Topics of Focus:
- Lack of recognition of the relevance of gender equality, in relation to security and defense sector reform;
- Low levels of coordination and integration of gender equality within security and defense sector reform activities, programs and oversight functions;
- Low level of women’s representation and participation within the security and defense sector;
- The prevalence of discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual violence against women within the security and defense sector.
Functioning and Needs of Regional Councils in Ukraine – 2022
The research report presents a detailed analysis of the functioning and needs of regional councils in Ukraine immediately prior to the Russian invasion. It discusses their role and impact on the lives of residents, and councils’ accountability, transparency, and inclusivity in the decision-making process. Moreover, the report analyses gender issues and women’s representation in the regional councils of Ukraine and the councils’ role in the ongoing decentralization reform of Ukraine. The paper also touches upon the reform that state authorities have undertaken since 2014.
Topics of Focus:
- The decentralization concept, legislation analysis, and gender lens;
- Evaluation of the decentralization reform by academia;
- International development projects in the field of decentralization;
- Evaluation of the regional councils’ effectiveness;
Parliaments, Politics And HIV/AIDS – A Comparative Study Of Five African Countries – 2006
This document is a synthesis report from a comparative study in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa on the effective use of parliamentary oversight in respect of the national responses to HIV/AIDS. This research also provides key recommendations to strengthen the role of parliamentarians in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Topics of Focus:
- HIV/AIDS and democratic challenges;
- HIV/AIDS and parliamentary systems;
- Parliaments and aid effectiveness