More than 40 representatives from the government, international donors, non-governmental organizations, and operators discussed key challenges and developed concrete recommendations on how to make the mine action sector in Ukraine more inclusive and gender-balanced. The two-day workshop was organized in Kyiv on February 18-19 by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Mine Action Office, and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), with the support of the governments of Switzerland, Canada, and Germany.

"If we do not have inclusive policies, particularly in mine action, we will not be able to utilize all available human capital. Ukraine, especially in the context of war and post-war recovery, needs every resource. We need to use all opportunities, including the support of every qualified individual," said Paul Heslop, Senior Mine Action Advisor Resident Coordinator Office, United Nations Ukraine.

The Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, Kateryna Levchenko, in her speech at the event, emphasized that societal biases remain a significant obstacle to equality: "I often hear: 'Yes, women and men have equal rights, but…' – and this 'but' is the biggest barrier to ensuring that every person, regardless of gender, can work at any level in any field, receive a fair salary, and share domestic labor equally. Therefore, the issues of inclusion and gender equality are essential in every discussion, policy, and activity today." 

Based on GICHD's research on social inclusion and gender equality in mine action, the workshop participants identified key challenges, strategic goals, and developed practical mechanisms to enhance the participation of various social groups in mine action.

"We are examining how and to what extent government bodies can further promote inclusion and gender equality in mine action. Such initiatives are often underfunded, for example. Therefore, it is crucial that all stakeholders join forces and think together about how to more effectively implement important inclusive programs," said Abigail Jones, Gender and Diversity Advisor at the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining.

During the workshop, participants, among other things, developed recommendations for:

• Better informing the public about inclusive projects and opportunities in mine action;

• Useful tools to strengthen the capacities of social groups;

• Initiatives to improve political and legal frameworks.

The recommendations will serve as a foundation for further actions aimed at more effective integration of inclusive practices into mine action.

Oleh Stoiev, Head of the Mine Action Office under the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, shared that the government is already implementing the best inclusive practices at the strategic level in the mine action sector. "Inclusion and gender equality, equal opportunities in the professional field of mine action for different social groups, is one of the sector's priorities. And this is not just a matter of common sense – it is an official position. We have developed and are implementing the National Mine Action Strategy, which includes nine measures to ensure equality and inclusion. These measures include supporting veterans, affected individuals, people with disabilities, and addressing gender equality," he emphasized.

The event was held with the financial support of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Global Affairs Canada, and the German Federal Foreign Office, who actively support initiatives for gender equality and social inclusion in the mine action sector.