Recently the winners of the Ukrainian competition "The Best Women Initiatives of Ukraine for economic development of local communities" made a study visit to Brussels. Active Ukrainians were at the epicenter of European politics, and met with the deputies, government officials, mayors, and international experts of gender equality.
The above mentioned competition was attended by women from different spheres; deputies, businesswomen, scientists, and public activists who are already actively working for the development of their communities. They presented their own projects on this competition. In November 2017, the winners were awarded in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine as part of the Women's Entrepreneurship Day celebrations. The most interesting competition projects were published in a separate collection.
One of the bright moment of the Brussels internship was a round table on the topic "Women in leadership positions: what has been achieved and how do we move forward in the future?", which was held in the European Parliament by one of the most powerful women's organizations in Europe - European Women's Lobby - with the support of MEP from Austria Angelika Mlinar.
The meeting with a German politician, Rebecca Garms, who is, according to Anastasia Popsui, “the most powerful lobbyist of Ukraine in the European Union”, made an extraordinary impression on Ukrainian activists. Ms Garms is a member of the Committee on parliamentary cooperation between Ukraine and the EU. The deputy said she is going to focus on improving life in Ukraine next year.
Rebecca Garms wrote an application for joining the European Assembly of Women Deputies during the meeting that the Ukrainian delegation proposed. Anastasia Popsui commented on this, saying: “This is a great event for us. Lobbing of democratic change in our country on the local places and inspiring women to stand for election will be easier for us now.”
The Ukrainians also met with the founder of the Green Party (Germany). Mr Frank Schwalba-Hoss, deputy of the first directly elected European Parliament 1984-1987 (deputies were elected by citizens since 1987, national parliaments were delegated before), worked in the Red Cross, and visited 85 parliaments of the world, including the Verkhovna Rada. Today, Frank Schwalba-Hos works on educational programs and arranges high-level networking events.
The Ukrainian delegation was highly affected after talking to MEP Chobo Shougor, who represents Romania's Hungarian minority in the European Parliament. He worked in the gender equality committee. During the meeting the problem of preserving identity in a multicultural environment was discussed. Introducing the exposure of the Europe Museum ended this rich, meaningful, without exaggeration crucial visit.
While in Brussels, Irpin Acting Mayor Anastasia Popsui provided testimony that Irpin had joined the European Charter for the Equality of Women and Men in Local Communities to the coordinator of gender direction in the Council of European Municipalities and District Jamie Jast. Irpin City Council joined to this Charter in July this year.
“There should be more women in politics, like Europe. We have to support each other in this difficult point. Our big hearts and aspirations to change the world for the better are stronger than the information manipulations of our opponents. And our good deeds are brighter than the populism a lot of men. I hope our winning women are even more inspired for decisive action and political activity” Anastasia Popsui emphasized.
Notably, the Ukrainian competition of women's initiatives was sponsored by the Ministry of International Affairs of Canada and through the international technical assistance project “Partnership for Urban Development“, implemented by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
