Institutionalization of a gender-sensitive approach in the public administration system: international standards and the Ukrainian context

Abstract

The article presents a systematic study of the theoretical, international-legal, and applied dimensions of institutionalizing a gender-sensitive approach in public administration. A comparative assessment of leading global practices,  particularly the Scandinavian model of state feminism is conducted, and the specific regional trajectories of Central and Eastern European countries are identified. The current state, key challenges, and prospects for implementing these mechanisms in Ukraine amid the armed conflict and European integration are examined. The methodological framework integrates system analysis, comparative-political and comparative-legal methods, analysis of international instruments (CEDAW, Istanbul Convention, UN Security Council resolutions, EU directives), quantitative assessment of international indices (GII, GGI, SIGI, EIGE), and SWOT analysis. The conceptual evolution of the gender-sensitive approach is traced, and three trajectories of post-socialist states are distinguished: reformist (Estonia), transitional deadlock (Poland), and reverse mainstreaming (Hungary). Ukraine's first Gender Equality Index (2025) scoring 61.4 out of 100, reveals a critically low level of women's representation in decision-making ("Influence" domain: 38.7 points). The systemic importance of Law No. 12245 of January 16, 2025 – which for the first time embedded the gender-oriented approach directly in the Budget Code of Ukraine  is examined. It is demonstrated that the effectiveness of a gender-sensitive approach depends on the interaction of three factors: institutional capacity of public authorities, societal acceptance of equality principles, and the existence of effective financial accountability mechanisms. A set of legislative, institutional, resource, and cultural recommendations is formulated to bring Ukraine closer to EU standards and incorporate the gender dimension into the post-war recovery framework.