Equality as a Driver of Resilience: EUAM Ukraine Brings Ukrainian Experience to the Riga Conference 2025
October 16, 2025
At this year’s Riga Conference – one of Europe’s most influential annual forums on security and resilience – Ukraine’s voice was at the forefront. Under the overarching theme “Unity, Security and Resilience in a Fragmented World,” the 2025 edition brought together political leaders, security experts, and diplomats to discuss global challenges and Europe’s response to them.
For the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine, the event was an opportunity to share first-hand lessons from Ukraine’s ongoing transformation of its civilian security sector, where resilience and equality are increasingly recognised as inseparable elements of modernization.
Highlighting Women’s Leadership in Security
On 9 October, EUAM Ukraine hosted a panel discussion titled “Modernizing Security: The Impact of Women Professionals in Ukraine’s Civilian Sector.” The session featured representatives from the National Police, National Guard, State Border Guard Service, Security Service of Ukraine, Kharkiv University of Internal Affairs, and the Ombudsperson’s Office.
The participants shared their experiences and insights on how Ukrainian women in security institutions are redefining leadership during wartime, breaking stereotypes, and strengthening institutional resilience. Their stories – of commitment, compassion, and courage – reflected the human side of Ukraine’s resistance and modernization.
“Equality leads to resilience – and together, they mean modernization. Modern security relies on both men and women, as its recipients and as its providers,” said Lolita Čigāne, EUAM’s Senior Advisor on European Integration.
Her message resonated across the audience, showing that Ukraine’s model of gender-inclusive reform offers valuable lessons for European partners striving to strengthen their own institutions in uncertain times.
Gender Equality as a Foundation of Resilience
Continuing the dialogue later in the week, EUAM contributed to the side event “Women and Resilience in Leadership Across Armed Forces, Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict Reconstruction.” The Mission’s representatives underlined that gender equality is not only a value but a structural necessity for resilient institutions.
“In addition to the operationalisation – moving from policy to practice – it is crucial to institutionalise gender equality. This is essential to ensure that the progress made is not lost,” was the message of Gorica Balta, EUAM Gender Advisor, shared during the session.
As the world approaches the 25th anniversary of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, EUAM Ukraine’s engagement reaffirmed the Mission’s ongoing commitment to embedding gender perspectives into its advisory work and supporting Ukrainian institutions in making equality a cornerstone of reform.
Addressing Human Rights and Accountability
The Riga discussions also touched upon the protection of human rights amid Russia’s full-scale aggression. Ukrainian Deputy Ombudsman Oleksandr Osipov shared testimonies collected by his Office on gender-based violence and atrocities committed against Ukrainian civilians.
“Women have testified that Russian soldiers hit them repeatedly and asked, ‘Are you still Ukrainian?’ – this is evidence of genocide, an attempt to kill the Ukrainian identity. We need the genocide to stop and bring all our citizens back home,” he said.
By facilitating exchanges like these, EUAM helps ensure that the experiences of Ukrainians are heard internationally and that accountability remains central to the global conversation on justice and peace.
Sharing Ukraine’s Experience with Europe
Throughout the conference, EUAM Ukraine’s delegation also engaged in high-level discussions with European and transatlantic partners, including during a dinner hosted by the Ambassador of Norway to Latvia, H.E. Ine Måreng, attended by Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Siliņa and Ukraine’s Ambassador to Latvia, H.E. Anatolii Kutsevol.
The Riga Conference’s focus on resilience and unity closely mirrors EUAM’s mission: supporting Ukraine’s civilian security institutions to modernise, strengthen democratic governance, and align with European standards.
By highlighting the link between equality and resilience, EUAM Ukraine brought to Riga a message shaped by Ukraine’s daily reality – that lasting security depends on inclusion, human dignity, and shared responsibility.
