Studies
Lessons Learned from Members of the Verkhovna Rada – 2024
This study found that some members of the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) still
think about gender in stereotypical ways. While this is not unusual, these views can still
affect how members of parliament understand and apply gender equality. This could ultimately limit the benefits of gender equality for both women and men as well as society
as a whole. Research also shows that gender stereotypes can be used by Russia in its information war to create confusion and division in Ukraine and elsewhere.
A study covering:
- Gender Stereotypical Roles in Lawmaking Topics
- Gender Stereotypical Roles in Family Responsibilities
- Recognizing Hostile, but not Benevolent Sexism
Experience of male and female parlamentarians during martial law in Ukraine – 2024
The results of this study allow us to identify and evaluate new formal and informal parliamentary practices and to gain a deeper understanding of the diverse personal experiences
of male and female parliamentarians. These experiences, including the challenges and
solutions found, will be an important source of information for male and female parliamentarians around the world in today’s turbulent environment.
Goal: To study the professional activities of MPs during martial law, the impact of the war
on their work and everyday life, and how the media cover the image of parliamentarians
in the field of security and defense.
A Comparative Analysis on Canadian and International Experience on Parliament-civil society Interaction in the legislative and oversight process, including public consultations, and especially in the context of a fragile security situation – 2024
The report addresses approaches to public consultation as practiced by parliaments internationally. The primary focus of the report is on the parliamentary law making role as opposed to its roles as oversight and custodian of the budget.
A study covering the Canadian and international practices on:
- Mechanisms of preparing and conducting public consultations by legislatures in Canada and elected assemblies in other countries, including approaches to ensuring that a variety of perspectives are taken into account in the legislative and oversight process;
- Variations in approaches to public consultations, based on the topic;
- Experiences in conducting consultations in conflict-affected and fragile societies, including consultations under martial law;
- Criteria for selecting witnesses (both civil society organizations and individual experts) to testify in front of parliamentary committees.
- How is the efficiency and effectiveness of public consultations assessed?
- Experiences in introducing changes to the public consultation process, including in the context of ongoing armed conflict
International Experiences in Establishing the Roles and Responsibilities of Members of Local Councils – 2024
This research paper provides an overview and comparative analysis of how four European countries (France, Lithuania, Norway, Poland) and two non-European countries (Canada and the United States) legislatively and practically handle six specific topics identified by the Rada Committee related to the roles and responsibilities of local council members. These are:
- Imperative mandate and recall
- Accountability of a local council member
- Early termination of a local council member’s power
- Compensation for executing the duties of a local council member
- Providing guarantees for the activities of a local council member
- Combining mandates, i.e. the representative mandate of a local council member with other activities
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;
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.
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