The OSCE Secretariat’s Gender Issues Programme held a two-day training for 21 mentors participating in Ukraine’s first Mentoring Programme for Women Police Officers, part of a joint initiative between the National Police of Ukraine and the OSCE’s WIN Project. The programme aims to strengthen women’s leadership in law enforcement and promote gender equality within the security sector. Opening the training, Vadym Filin from the National Police emphasised that empowering women in policing is essential for building a modern and resilient law enforcement system.

This training represents the first phase of a nine-month pilot programme that will begin in November 2025 across four regions of Ukraine. Each mentor will be paired with a mentee to promote women’s professional development and enhance institutional resilience. Project experts Marta Chumalo and Marta Vasylkevych led sessions on mentoring skills, self-regulation, psychological resilience, and preventing workplace discrimination, key components for navigating and transforming a traditionally male-dominated environment.

Participants reported that the sessions increased their self-awareness and confidence, preparing them to better support their mentees and foster women’s advancement within the police force. By supporting this initiative through the WIN Project, the OSCE contributes to the broader implementation of Ukraine’s National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325, reinforcing national efforts to increase women’s representation and leadership within the security sector.

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