GENDER BALANCE OF PUBLIC AUTHORITY AND PUBLIC MANAGEMENT IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article examines the gender aspects of public authorities and public management in Ukraine as one of the most important elements of their full functioning and components of state policy to ensure equality of women and men in the field of public management and administration. According to the results of the Global Gender Gap Index 2023, it was found that Ukraine’s position remains low in the future. It is substantiated that taking into account the gender aspects of public authorities and public management is an important factor characterizing Ukraine as a democratic European state. It was revealed that individual public authorities are characterized by different representation of women, and some have a positive trend in reducing the gender gap, while others have the opposite one. It has been proven that women are underrepresented at the decision-making level in public authorities and management. Despite the fact that 1/5 of the modern parliamentary corps is represented by women and generally positive dynamics throughout the convocations, the indicator of female representation in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is unconvincing. Women are also underrepresented in executive bodies. An analysis of the dynamics of the composition of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine indicates instability in achieving gender equality. The dynamics of gender parity indices among representatives of the judicial branch of government, the prosecutor's office and other government bodies was analyzed. Positive changes in their gender composition are reported, and trends in their manifestation are indicated. Significantly lower rates of this index were noted among the management corps of these institutions. Similar problems have been identified in local governments as components of public management. It is substantiated that the number of women decreases with an increase in the status of public authorities, the category of civil service positions, and the level of positions in the internal structure of the organization. According to The Global Gender Gap Index 2023, Ukraine has lost 29 positions in education as a component of the index compared to the 2020 rating. In this regard, the preparation of higher education applicants in the fields of knowledge “Public management and administration” and “Law” was analyzed. The features of the application of electoral gender quotas introduced with the aim of enhancing the participation of women in the socio-political life of the state are indicated. Proposals have been developed to eliminate abuse of the electoral gender quota.