On 2–3 March 2026, the regional forum “She Leads Ukraine” took place in Kyiv. The event aimed to support and strengthen women’s roles in community development, the economy, and local self-government in the northern regions of Ukraine.
The forum brought together women leaders from the Sumy, Kyiv, and Chernihiv regions, including entrepreneurs, civil society activists, and representatives of public authorities and local self-government. The main objective of the event was to create a space for cooperation and exchange of experience among women who are actively working on the development and recovery of their communities despite the complex challenges of the present time. Among the participants of the forum for women leaders was Alina Kirieieva, a third-year student of the International Law programme, who represented the civil society sector of the Lebedyn community.
During the forum, participants discussed issues of women’s leadership, women’s participation in decision-making processes, the development of entrepreneurship, and the recovery of de-occupied territories. Considerable attention was also paid to building partnerships, strengthening interregional cooperation, and launching new initiatives aimed at enhancing the role of women in social and political life.
The programme of the event included panel discussions, political workshops, practical exercises, and strategic sessions. The participants also worked on the creation of a “Political Leadership Map of the North” and on establishing a platform for further cooperation between the regions.
The “She Leads Ukraine” forum was organized by UN Women in Ukraine in partnership with the NGO Educational Compass, the Central Election Commission of Ukraine, and the Equal Opportunities Inter-Factional Association in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, with financial support from the governments of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.