Inga Dudnyk: Gender Equality, IDP Rights, and Local Democracy in Wartime Ukraine
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/12/09
Inga Dudnyk is the Executive Director of the Kropyvnytskyi-based civil society organization Territory of Success, which has been promoting human rights, gender equality, and accountable local governance since 2008. [Ed. The NGO Territory of Success is a member of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union. However, the coordinator of the public reception office is another person—Yevhen Hurnytskyi.]Dudnyk also serves as the regional coordinator of the Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival. Among the organization’s current initiatives is the USAID-supported project “Participatory Approach to Community Development” implemented in five communities (Malovyskivska, Znamianska, Novoarkhanhelska, Dmytrivska, and Novoukrainska). This includes creating gender profiles in these communities based on research inclusive of vulnerable groups, as well as evidence-based analytics concerning internally displaced persons (IDPs) and local democracy. The team collaborates with the Transparent Budgets Partnership, the Ukrainian Women’s Fund, People in Need, and the Regional Veterans’ Center. They are also members of the regional coalition “1325. Kirovohrad Region”—implementing the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 “Women, Peace, Security.”
In this interview, Dudnyk outlines work on human rights, gender equality, and accountable local governance since 2008. As Docudays UA coordinator, she uses films to spark civic literacy. A USAID project produced gender profiles in five communities, shaped 2025 budgets, enabled civic participatory bylaws, a mobile pharmacy, and safety upgrades. Veterans Center coordinates legal and psychological aid. With UHHRU, priorities include documenting war crimes, restoring lost papers, property destruction, and IHL violations. Kropyvnytskyi drafted public-consultation rules and reinstated livestreams. Over 80% of IDP recommendations were adopted; online schooling fell to 8%, medical monitoring to 5%.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Your team selected five communities for the project “Participatory Approach to Community Development.” What practical changes and measurable outcomes do you plan to achieve in the Malovyskivska, Znamianska, Novoarkhanhelska, Dmytrivska, and Novoukrainska communities?
Inga Dudnyk: The project concluded in January, 2025.
Results:
Gender profiles were created in all five communities based on research into the needs of underrepresented groups. Data from these documents were used in preparing the 2025 budgets and designing budget programs. Local regulatory acts were developed to enable participation in local democracy.
During the project’s implementation, initiative groups were formed. In the Novoarkhanhelska community, which includes 21 settlements, medicines were previously available only in the community center—Novoarkhanhelsk village. The other settlements had no pharmacies, and residents had to travel 10–50 km one way to obtain medicine. The initiative group formed during the project succeeded in establishing a mobile pharmacy that now travels to the settlements (excluding Novoarkhanhelsk itself), providing residents with access to medication.
In the Novoukrainska community, the initiative group conducted a safety audit of the community area, developed recommendations, and, together with local authorities, installed streetlights and security cameras.
Jacobsen: At what stage is the Gender Profile of Kropyvnytskyi now?
Dudnyk: The Gender Profile of Kropyvnytskyi is only planned to be developed. We have previously created gender profiles in several communities (see above).
Jacobsen: What services does the Regional Veterans’ Center coordinate together with municipal and state institutions?
Dudnyk: They provide legal and psychological support to male and female veterans, as well as support for families of the fallen and missing persons. They also offer social assistance to veterans.
Jacobsen: Regarding the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (UHHRU), what are the most common legal issues that have arisen since 2022?
Dudnyk: Documenting war crimes, including cases of conflict-related sexual violence.
Restoration of lost documents.
Documenting destruction of property.
Documenting violations of the rules of humanitarian law.
Jacobsen: After the city discussion in June 2025 about the new law on public consultations, what reforms will Kropyvnytskyi implement to ensure citizen participation?
Dudnyk: A new Regulation on Public Consultations has been developed. We are currently awaiting its approval by the local council.
Jacobsen: As a member of the Transparent Budgets Partnership, what transparency results can realistically be achieved in 2025?
Dudnyk: During the war, access to information is restricted, and there has been some retreat from democratic procedures. Our task is to monitor these processes to ensure they occur within the law and remain logical. For example, in 2025, live online broadcasts of local council sessions were resumed. We are analyzing compliance with procedures for forming the community budget, accountability, and transparency in the process of spending funds.
Jacobsen: Your analytical research on internally displaced persons (IDPs) and underrepresented groups (2022–2024) identified specific needs. Which of your recommendations have already been implemented?
Dudnyk: More than 80% of our recommendations were incorporated into the development of the Comprehensive Program for the Protection of IDP Rights.
In the 2022–2023 academic year, only 25% of school-aged children who arrived in Kropyvnytskyi from active combat zones attended school in person. Seventy-five percent studied online. We emphasized this issue in our research. Now, the situation has changed: only 8% of children continue to study online.
Only 17% of children had access to medical care—they had signed declarations with local doctors. The rest were monitored online. In 2025, this situation improved: only 5% of children are now monitored online.
The city council’s programs place particular emphasis on the needs of target groups.
Jacobsen: As the regional coordinator of Docudays UA, how do you use film discussions to promote civic literacy?
Dudnyk: A film is an excellent opportunity to talk about contemporary issues. That is why we try to bring films to different audiences—schoolchildren, students, and older people—to discuss the problems people face. For example, this year we will focus on participation, social cohesion, dialogue, and recovery.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Inga.
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