GENDER DIMENSIONS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

Abstract

The article is devoted to a comprehensive study of the mechanisms for ensuring gender equality and overcoming gender discrimination within the system of public administration and local self-government in Ukraine. The paper analyzes the current state and prospects of gender policy implementation, covering legislative, social, and economic aspects. Particular attention is paid to the transformation of gender approaches in the context of the full-scale Russian invasion, where equality issues have become a tool for crisis response and a foundation for future reconstruction. Based on the “Global Gender Gap Report 2025” data, where Ukraine ranked 62nd, the dynamics of closing gender gaps and the war’s impact on these processes are highlighted. The article provides a critical analysis of the effectiveness of gender quotas in electoral processes, specifically the implementation of the 40% quota under the Electoral Code. The phenomena of the “glass ceiling” and vertical segregation are investigated: it was found that despite the general dominance of women in the civil service, their share in Category “A” positions is only 26%, and in parliament–21%. The practical value of the study is supported by an analysis of women’s representation in the authorities of the Kyiv region, based on which the “Gender Portrait of the Region” infographic was developed. The necessity of using modern tools, such as gender audits and gender community profiles, to form inclusive recovery plans is substantiated. The author argues that the parity participation of women in politics and negotiations is a strategic requirement for improving administrative efficiency and achieving sustainable peace.