On March 5, another online meeting was held within the framework of the regional platform "Dialogue between Government and Business," this time devoted to the implementation of gender policies in enterprises. The event was attended by more than 80 representatives of business and government authorities in Donetsk Oblast.
During the dialogue, it was emphasized that gender policies in enterprises are not only a matter of social responsibility, but also a modern standard of personnel management. They provide equal opportunities for women and men in access to work, remuneration, career development, and training, as well as zero tolerance for discrimination and harassment.
Lilia Zolkina, head of the regional administration's department for family, youth, and mass events of national-patriotic education, emphasized that the implementation of such policies contributes to the creation of a safe working environment, increases employee motivation and the efficiency of enterprises, which is especially important in wartime.
Lilia Kislitsyna, head of the Smart public organization and secretary of the 1325 Donetsk Coalition, drew attention to changes in the labor market during the war. According to her, significantly more women are taking on new professional roles in production and management, so it is important for businesses to effectively utilize the potential of all employees and implement gender-sensitive approaches to human resource management.
Natalia Kirkach, chair of the board of the Slovyanske Serce charity fund and advisor to the head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, spoke about practical mechanisms for responding to cases of discrimination or harassment in the workplace. In particular, they discussed the creation of internal procedures for filing complaints at enterprises and the possibility of appealing to state bodies—the State Labor Service, the Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Commissioner, the courts, or law enforcement agencies.
Participants also discussed local entrepreneurship support programs, shared practical experience, and identified further steps to strengthen cooperation between government and business. The "Dialogue between Government and Business" platform operates on behalf of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and aims to respond quickly to challenges and establish effective communication with entrepreneurs.