On September 4, the She Leads Ukraine Regional Forum, titled “Resilience and Recovery: Women’s Leadership in Frontline Communities,” took place in Dnipro. The event brought together women leaders, representatives of government agencies, local self-government bodies, civil society organizations, and international partners from the Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv regions.
The forum was attended by Oleksandr Shevchenko, Deputy Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, and Lilia Zolkina, Head of the Department of Family, Youth, and Mass Events for National-Patriotic Education of the Donetsk Regional State Administration.
In his welcoming remarks, Oleksandr Shevchenko emphasized the special significance of women’s leadership for the Donetsk region. Amid daily shelling, evacuations, and forced displacement, women are defending Ukraine, rescuing and supporting people, ensuring the functioning of social, medical, and educational services, developing volunteer and civic initiatives, and maintaining connections between residents and communities.
During the forum, participants discussed tools for supporting and recognizing women leaders. Among them is the “Woman of Donetsk Oblast” contest, which the region revived during the full-scale invasion. It helps honor women who work every day for the benefit of people and their communities, and highlights their resilience, responsibility, and compassion.
Another important platform has been the Donetsk Region Women’s Congresses, held in collaboration with the civil society organization “SMARTA” and with the support of UN Women. These events bring women together to engage in dialogue, share experiences, build partnerships, and launch joint initiatives.
During the panel discussion “Localizing the ‘Women, Peace, and Security’ Agenda in Frontline Communities,” Lilia Zolkina presented the Regional Action Plan for Implementing the National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 “Women, Peace, and Security” for the period up to 2030 in Donetsk Oblast.
She paid particular attention to adapting the Plan to the security situation, supporting residents of Donetsk Oblast regardless of their location, ensuring access to services, and strengthening cooperation with host communities, relocated institutions, and civil society organizations.
The “Donetsk Region 1325” Coalition, which brings together more than 50 civil society organizations, remains a key partner in this work. Cooperation among government authorities, civil society, and international partners helps ensure that women’s needs are addressed and that the Regional Plan is effectively implemented.
A separate session of the forum was devoted to a brainstorming session titled “What is the driving force behind change in frontline communities?” Participants worked in small groups to identify key challenges and opportunities for women leaders and developed proposals in three areas: women’s leadership at the local level, localizing the “Women, Peace, and Security” agenda, and gender-responsive budgeting.
For Donetsk Oblast today, women’s leadership means daily work for the benefit of people and communities. Women take responsibility, make important decisions, support those around them, and continue to shape the future of Donetsk Oblast even amid the war.
Strong women’s leadership is a vital component of our communities’ resilience and the future of Donetsk Oblast.