1. About us
  2. How it all began
  3. Board
  4. Our history

About us

The Ukrainian Association of Women in Law Enforcement (UAWLE) is a non-governmental organization that brings together women and men from different law enforcement agencies.

Together we strive to create an enabling environment for women and men in law enforcement. Our goal is to promote gender equality and gender balance in their workplaces. The Association is one of the first such organizations in the Eastern European region to promote the implementation of gender-sensitive policies and practices in law enforcement agencies.

How it all began

The idea of creating such a hub first arose in 2015, when law enforcement agencies were being reformed in Ukraine. However, its active implementation began in March 2017 after the events organized by the Police Training Support Project (PTAP) on gender aspects in policing.

Then a task force was formed of 15 people, who pioneered the implementation of this idea. They consulted with international experts, met with Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland, and participated in the 7th Annual ‘Women in Police’ Conference in Georgia.

March 2018 marked the official beginning of the successful functioning of UAWLE, as the NGO was registered.

It is worth mentioning that the prototype of the UAWLE is the International Association of Women Police, founded in 1915 in Los Angeles to unite and empower women in police. It is a perfect example of successful consolidation of efforts of women in law enforcement. Therefore, when UAWLE received the affiliate member status of the IAWP in September 2019, it strengthened the role of Ukrainian law enforcement officers in the international arena.

Involved in the work at the international level, the Ukrainian Association of Women in Law Enforcement has become a facilitator for the best positive changes based on national and international experience.

Board

Pavlichenko Kateryna Volodymyrivna

Chair of the Board

Police Major

Pavlichenko Kateryna Volodymyrivna

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine

Zelena Iryna Volodymyrivna

Board member

Police Major

Zelena Iryna Volodymyrivna

Head of the Human Rights Monitoring Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine

Novikova Natalia Fedorivna

Board member

Police captain

Novikova Natalia Fedorivna

Head of the Support Sector of the Patrol Police Headquarters in Poltava Oblast of the Patrol Police Department

Nalyvaiko Larysa Romanivna

Board member

Nalyvaiko Larysa Romanivna

Vice-rector of Dnipropetrovsk State University of Internal Affairs

Derkach Olha Volodymyrivna

Board member

Derkach Olha Volodymyrivna

Project Manager of the Council of Europe in Ukraine

Lavkova Lesya Mykolaivna

Board member

Police Senior Lieutenant

Lavkova Lesya Mykolaivna

Deputy Head of the Financial Support and Accounting Department, Head of the Planning and Finance Division of the Patrol Police Department

Yuskevych Olha Stepanivna

Board member

Police Major

Yuskevych Olha Stepanivna

Assistant to the Chief of the National Police Headquarters in Kyiv

Volobuieva Olena Fedorivna

Board member

Colonel

Volobuieva Olena Fedorivna

Gender Adviser to the Rector of the National Academy of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine named after Bohdan Khmelnytskyi

Our history

  • 2017

    • March

      The idea to create an Association of women in police emerged during the seminar on gender aspects and policing held by Police Training Assistance Project (PTAP).

    • May

      The members went on a study trip to the USA to learn about the work of similar Associations and initiatives supporting the idea of gender equality.

    • June

      40 representatives of the law enforcement sector and international organizations initiated the creation of the Association that would bring together women from different agencies within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. A task force was created involving law enforcers as well as Ukrainian and international experts. Among others, the foundation process was joined by representatives of the International Association of Women Police (IAWP), European Union Advisory Mission in Ukraine, and ICITAP.

    • December

      The task force met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Chrystia Freeland, who praised the initiative to empower women in law enforcement.

  • 2018

    • March 6-9

      The task force members took part in the 7th annual ‘Women in Police’ conference in Georgia.

    • March 12

      The Ukrainian Association of Women in Law Enforcement is registered as a non-profit NGO.

    • March 14

      A ceremonial launch of the Ukrainian Association of Women in Law Enforcement.

    • August

      The first UAWLE Strategic Plan for 2018-2020 was adopted.

    • August

      The UAWLE delegation took part in the 56th International Conference of Women Police in Calgary, Canada.

    • November

      UAWLE organized its First conference. The event brought together representatives of the law enforcement community of Ukraine and the world to discuss the implementation of the idea of equal opportunities for women and men in law enforcement.

  • 2019

    • September

      The Ukrainian delegation of law enforcement representatives participated in the major IAWP conference in Anchorage, USA. The theme of the conference was ‘Mentoring the next generation.’

    • September

      The Association received the affiliated member status in the International Association of Women Police – IAWP, which strengthened the UAWLE role on the international arena. Since then, female law enforcers from Ukraine have been represented in the international association.

    • December

      UAWLE held the Second annual conference titled 'Leadership: the balance between professional and personal. Inspire. Be yourself. Motivate.’ The event focused on women’s leadership, motivation and finding balance between professional and personal. Over 300 participants – male and female UAWLE members, law enforcement representatives as well as local and international experts – shared their personal stories about leadership, balance, and inspiration.

  • 2020

    • March

      UAWLE presented their achievements at the ceremonial reception dedicated to a visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada François-Philippe Champagne and celebrating Canada’s contribution to the reforms in security sector in Ukraine.

    • July

      An UAWLE member and the Deputy Head of Patrol Police Department Oleksiy Biloshytskyi received an IAWP award in the nomination “Recognition for men supporting the UN HeForShe Campaign.”

    • December

      The annual UAWLE meeting took place. The meeting was dedicated to the presentation of key achievements in Association’s activity, namely the outcomes of the UAWLE Strategic Plan for 2018-2020, results of the regional development committee, and developments of the Mentorship task force.

  • 2021

    • March

      During the General Meeting, new elections of the governing body of the Association (the Board) took place, and Kateryna Pavlichenko was re-elected as the Head of UAWLE.

    • April

      UAWLE and UNOPS signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote gender equality and women's leadership in law enforcement agencies of Ukraine.

    • May

      The governing body of the Association adopted the Strategic Plan for 2021-2024, providing for the development strategy of the UAWLE at the regional, all-Ukrainian and international levels.

    • July

      The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported the renaming of the holiday of October 14 from "Defender's Day" (in Ukrainian the word ‘defender’ has both masculine and feminine forms but only a masculine one was included in a holiday’s name) to the "Day of men and women defending Ukraine", which makes Ukrainian women more visible in society and increases their significant role in the development and protection of Ukraine. The initiator of this legislative change in 2019 was the Ukrainian Association of Women in Law Enforcement.

    • October

      UAWLE together with UN Women held a large-scale Interregional Conference "Break stereotypes by self-discovery", which brought together more than 500 participants from different regions of Ukraine. The event was held in a hybrid format of teleconference with live broadcasts from 5 cities: Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, Poltava, Mariupol, and Lviv.

    • November

      UAWLE took part in the Training Session of the 58th Conference of the International Association of Women Police (IAWP), held in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. One of the speakers of the Conference was the Head of the UAWLE Kateryna Pavlichenko.

  • 2022

    • February

      The "Book of Stories" was published. This is a collection of stories by members of the Ukrainian Association of Women in Law Enforcement. It includes unique experiences: about the path to the desired goal, struggle with difficulties and challenges, ups and downs, disappointments and finding faith, support and hope. This is a book about strong and incredible women and girls who chose one of the most difficult and honorable professions - to serve and protect.

    • March

      The Head of the Association Kateryna Pavlichenko addressed the international community during the opening of the IAWP Regional Training Conference in Dublin, where she emphasized the role of law enforcement officers during the full-scale war of Russia against Ukraine.

    • September

      UAWLE members took part in the 59-th IAWP Conference in Niagara Falls, Canada, which brought together participants from 43 countries. Ukrainian delegation had an important mission – to raise awareness of the international community about the challenges related to the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine and to tell about the role Ukrainian law enforcement plays in the resistance.

    • November

      Members of UAWLE, with the support of UN Women Ukraine, initiated the Regional Conference "Ukrainian law enforcement officers: Strength in Unity". The first UAWLE regional conference was held on November 11 in Poltava.