Gender Equality Fellowship Spotlight

Could you share a brief introduction about yourself?
I am an international expert with over 8 years of professional experience working on youth and women’s empowerment, non-formal education and European integration, gender equality promotion and women’s rights in Ukraine and the European Union.

I have legal and sociology backgrounds. I graduated from the University College London (a world-leading university) with a Master’s Degree in Gender, Society and Representation (2019) and the Mykolas Romeris University with a Master’s Degree in Legal Regulation of Public Administration and Human Rights (2016). Currently, I am doing Ph.D. at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and work as a Research Fellow at the University of Helsinki.

Since 2020, I am engaged as an Expert at the EU-funded Regional Communication Programme for the Eastern Neighbourhood ‘EU NEIGHBOURS EAST’. As the National Coordinator of the ‘Young European Ambassadors’ initiative in Ukraine, I am in charge of the operation of the YEAs chapter consisting of 180+ people of different age groups and backgrounds. Besides, since 2019, I work as an Executive Director of the NGO ‘Women’s League’ and lead a team of 25+ young people. In 2020, I founded the ‘Girls Leadership Academy (GLA)’ project, and in 2022, I established the ‘Girls Diplomatic Academy (GDA)’ project. Both initiatives have been implemented under the EU4Youth Alumni Network programme. The first one aims at developing leadership skills of girls 14-16 years old from small settlements from regions of Ukraine, and the objective of the second one is to help girls 17-21 years old who do not study diplomacy as a part of their formal education understand what is going on at the international arena. In 2023, I created the ‘Girls Leadership and Volunteering Forum (GLVF)’ project to provide girls 14-17 years old with a practical instrument for making a difference in their local communities as a time of war and post-war reconstruction.

In recognition of my expertise, I received the Honorary Diploma from the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine for the contribution to the development of the volunteer movement, popularization of the culture of volunteering among young people, implementation of youth volunteer initiatives, professionalism, and dedication to work (2023), the ‘Young Scientist 2022’ award in the nomination ‘International Cooperation’ from the Council of Young Scientists under the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (2023), and the Letter of Acknowledgement from the Parliament of Ukraine for a significant personal contribution to the socio-economic and cultural and educational development of the state, active social activity, hard work and high professionalism (2023).

What inspired you to pursue a fellowship in gender equality, and what specific issues or challenges within this field are you most passionate about addressing?
I did my Bachelor’s Degree in Law, and I have always had a very strong sense of justice. However, it was only in 2015 when, after joining the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA International) as an Intern, I developed interest in gender equality. The IDEA International’s research on women in politics made me curious and opened to me the whole new range of issues and problems in this. The internship resulted in my first article on women in politics in Ukraine (‘A New Vision of Ukrainian Politics or Another Political Trick: Reflections on the Role of the Electoral Quota for Women in Ukraine and Its Results’) being published at Eastern Journal of European Studies.

Since that moment, I have always been keen on working with women’s rights and gender equality both on personal and professional levels. I trust that there can be no just society without equality of rights and equality of opportunities for everyone.

The key issues I am most passionate about in this field are:

• women in politics and international relations and women’s/girls’ leadership
• women’s economic empowerment and social entrepreneurship
• European integration of Ukraine and gender equality

What do you hope to achieve or learn during your fellowship within SHAPEDEM-EU?
The SHAPEDEM-EU project is a unique opportunity to network with like-minded people, experts and researchers on democracy and gender equality in the region. It is a brilliant platform for experience-sharing and professional development. Besides, the project provides an amazing opportunity for personal growth, reflections on the results achieved up-to-date and goal setting for the future.

Respectively, during my fellowship with the SHAPEDEM-EU project, I hope to expand my professional network, as well as get some new good friends, to learn more about the state of democracy and gender equality in the region, and to refresh the vision of my professional and personal life goals.

Could you share a brief introduction about yourself?

I am a dedicated advocate for social justice and gender equality with 10 years of experience in the Armenian civil society sector with academic background in gender studies. Throughout my work with the local and international organizations, I have been involved in non-formal education programs for active citizenship and sustainable development as an educator, and education programs manager. Social justice, democracy, and gender equality have always been at the core of the programs that I have designed and implemented. My geographical focus is on rural Armenia. Recently, I graduated from the Central European University with an MA in Critical Gender Studies. My research interests include the intersection of gender and nationalism and gendered education policies and practices in Armenia. In collaboration with the Women’s Fund Armenia, I recently published a paper on gendered nationalist education practices in rural Armenian schools which was based on my thesis research. Given the recent geo-political developments in the South Caucasus, I am also eager to explore the possibilities for feminist anti-war movements in the region.

What inspired you to pursue a fellowship in gender equality, and what specific issues or challenges within this field are you most passionate about addressing?

I realize that on-the-ground fieldwork will never be enough without careful and consistent interventions at the policy-making level. My long-term vision is to contribute to designing and implementing feasible and extensive gender equality policies in Armenia based on an intersectional approach. The EU democracy support policy for Armenia is a valuable resource to be utilized wisely by the local political and civil society actors. I am willing to contribute to the initiative of rethinking and reshaping EU democracy support policies in Armenia, because I believe that the socio-political landscape has transformed amid the rise of armed conflicts in the region. Following the second war in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, the escalations between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the last 3 years, and the recent forced displacement of Karabakh-Armenians by Azerbaijan, nationalist discourses and practices have exacerbated in the country which are inevitably gendered to a large extent. In this reality, when anti-gender notions take up much space in social, political domains, and media, gender equality agendas are being devalued and silenced. Moreover, in the context of the EU’s recent energy partnership with Azerbaijan, there is a lack of trust in EU institutions and their commitment to promoting democracy in the region. In this environment, it’s challenging to generate support for EU policies in the country.

What do you hope to achieve or learn during your fellowship within SHAPEDEM-EU?

During my fellowship I aim to advance my knowledge about EU democracy support policies and practices in its Eastern and Southern neighborhoods in general, particularly in Armenia. Through the useful connections and exchange with the stakeholders in Brussels and elsewhere I hope to develop an extensive list of recommendations for the EU democracy support policies in Armenia, with a specific focus on gender equality.

Could you share a brief introduction about yourself?

I am a human rights defender and activist based in Georgia. My professional journey spanning 16 years has been intricately woven with a focus on advancing gender equality and protecting women's rights. I have had the privilege of undertaking various responsibilities, including the role of Deputy Public Defender of Georgia. Regarding my academic background, I hold a master's degree in Public Law from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and an MSc in Gender, Policy, and Inequalities from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). In 2016, I received the prestigious Kato Mikeladze Award for Women Human Rights Defenders. I love animals and have two dogs.

What inspired you to pursue a fellowship in gender equality, and what specific issues or challenges within this field are you most passionate about addressing?

The inspiration to pursue a fellowship in gender equality stems from a deep-rooted commitment to fostering positive change in societal norms and structures. Over my dedicated work as a human rights defender and activist, I have witnessed the persistent challenges and disparities faced by individuals, particularly women and LGBTQI+ people, in various facets of life. My passion for addressing gender equality issues is fueled by a desire to dismantle the barriers that hinder equal opportunities. I am particularly drawn to advocating for the rights of marginalized groups, addressing gender-based violence, and promoting inclusivity in policies and practices. Furthermore, I believe in the importance of aligning Georgia's aspirations toward the European Union. In this process, it becomes crucial to closely engage with the practical challenges and solutions the EU suggests for gender equality.

What do you hope to achieve or learn during your fellowship within SHAPEDEM-EU?

During my fellowship within SHAPEDEM-EU, I aspire to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical implementation in the field of gender equality. My primary goal is to actively contribute to the ongoing discourse and work towards cultivating a more equitable and just society, aligning with international standards and best practices. Through engagement with SHAPEDEM-EU, I hope to gain insights into effective strategies and solutions that have proven successful in the European Union. This involves not only acquiring theoretical knowledge but also immersing myself in the practical aspects of implementing gender equality initiatives. Furthermore, collaborative learning and sharing experiences will be instrumental in expanding my perspective and refining my approach to addressing gender-related issues in Georgia.