How do gender stereotypes affect the work of an advocate?
As part of the implementation of the gender policy in the bar, it is planned to develop a questionnaire and conduct a survey on the impact of gender stereotypes on the work of a lawyer. In particular, who exactly (a woman or a man) is chosen by clients depending on the category of the case and how do courts and law enforcement agencies treat lawyers depending on their gender?
This was the task set by the Ukrainian National Bar Association's Committee on Gender Policy at its last meeting.
The information gathered from the survey will be summarized, after which lawyers will be offered practical recommendations on this issue.
Other plans announced by the committee include engaging international organizations working on gender policy issues, as well as legal education (development of recommendations, programs, and training; cooperation with national public organizations, universities, and others working on gender policy and legal education).
«The issue of gender equality has been raised from time to time both at the state level and in society. As a rule, it was our European partners who initiated the discussion of the issues. The greatest activity in the direction of regulatory regulation was observed after the signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, - said Anatoliy Telman, Chairman of the Committee on Gender Policy. - However, there are still many problems and unresolved issues in society at different levels and in different social groups, which have taken on particular forms after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We will be studying these problems in the near future».
The Committee also announced personnel changes. Yurii Hryhorenko was appointed Deputy Chairman and Valeriia Dolgoer was appointed Secretary.
«Strategic planning of gender policy is an important aspect in achieving the values of equality between women and men. Building a high-quality strategy requires experience and expertise, including collecting and processing data, setting priorities and evaluating the effectiveness of already developed strategies, - said Y. Hryhorenko. - The European Union, in particular the Commission for Gender Equality and the Monitoring of its Progress, already has some experience in this area. Its analysis can also help the Ukrainian bar to improve approaches and practices in developing strategies».
Referring to open sources, the lawyer drew attention to the existence of at least 31 genders. Therefore, gender policy, in his opinion, should take into account the relationships that already exist. After all, in the world in general and in Ukraine in particular, there are a large number of people who have a gender identity that differs from the sex assigned to them at birth. «According to the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, a person's gender identity is one of the most intimate areas of a person's private life. And the ECHR has unambiguously established a positive obligation for European states to ensure legal gender recognition. However, when it comes to the practical implementation of this obligation, it is necessary to carefully assess the procedures for their compatibility with human rights», - the Deputy Chairman of the Committee summarized.
V. Dolgoer emphasized the importance of developing the geography of the Committee's activities. «I see my task as developing gender-oriented governance and raising the level of legal education among citizens in the regions of Ukraine», - she explained.
In this regard, the Gender Policy Committee has announced a competition for regional representatives. Attorneys with knowledge and experience in the field of gender policy can join the specialized committee by sending a resume and motivation letter to Olena Davydiuk, a member of the UNBA Committee Coordinator team, at o.davydiuk@unba.org.ua.
As a reminder, in February 2023, the UNBA website launched the section «Personal Experience in the Profession». The project was launched in cooperation with the UNBA NextGen, the Committee on Gender Policy, as well as the Program for the Development of Women's Leadership in the Bar and Encouragement of Girls and Women to Choose the Legal Profession. UNBA Council Member Tetyana Rabko suggested that men, representatives of the UNBA NextGen and the Gender Policy Committee, as well as representatives from the regions, should be involved in the preparation of publications. «The publications may be of interest to young lawyers who are planning to choose the profession of a lawyer, - said T. Rabko. - In addition, the project creates a positive image of the bar and can inspire colleagues to new ideas when they get acquainted with the success stories of their colleagues».
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