TRANSFORMATION OF THE LEGAL MECHANISM FOR THE FORMATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF GENDER POLICY IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article examines the transformation of the legal mechanism for the formation and implementation of gender policy based on the consideration of international and national gender legal regulation. As a result of the constitutional consolidation of gender relations, the most important gender-parity principles and citizens' rights have been legitimized. Ukraine has legally acceded to the main international documents, in particular, international gender standards are reflected in the Constitution of Ukraine and other legal acts of Ukraine. The international legal instruments ratified by Ukraine are aimed at ensuring gender equality in all spheres of Ukrainian society, increasing women's participation in decision-making, reducing the gender pay gap, etc. Since its independence, Ukraine has managed to formulate the basic principles of public gender policy. In the process of improving legislation, many provisions of legal acts have undergone a positive gender evolution. It is found that the first legal documents on gender issues contained the concept of improving the status of women, while since 2005 the concept of a comprehensive gender approach has been actively implemented in national legislation. It has been found that in 2015-2021, as a result of the introduction of gender quotas in Ukraine, the representation of women in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, regional and district councils increased. However, as a result of the decentralisation reform in Ukraine, the representation of women in representative bodies of local self-government at the basic level has decreased. It is established that Ukrainian legislation does not contain discriminatory norms and restrictions on the participation of women and men in political or public activities, but there is no list of special gender mechanisms and procedures for their implementation, sanctions for violation of gender legislation, etc. It is proposed to improve the legal mechanism for the implementation of gender policy through the effective implementation of international gender obligations, consideration of gender principles and gender expertise of all draft legal acts, development of gender-based regulatory sanctions and incentives.