On 31 October 2025, a regional forum installation “Voice of Peace – Women” was held at SumDU. It was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of adopting UN Security Council Resolution 1325 “Women, Peace, Security”. The event was organized by the 1325-Sumshchyna coalition with support of partner public organizations to implement the all-Ukrainian information campaign “1325 Strengthens the Country”.

The event brought together representatives of government bodies, public sector, scientific community, law enforcement agencies and media. They work daily to establish a just peace, gender equality and accessibility. Representatives of the State Border Service of Ukraine, the Main Department of the National Police in Sumy Oblast and the Main Department of the State Emergency Service in Sumy Oblast also participated in the forum.

In a video greeting, the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy Kateryna LEVCHENKO noted: “You are holding this forum in Sumy, a city of endurance, indomitability, resistance and public solidarity. Your resilience in face of the full-scale Russian aggression impresses Ukraine and the whole world. The work you are doing is extremely important, because it helps Ukraine remain committed to principles of human rights, peace, equality and opportunities for women and men, as enshrined in Resolution 1325”.

The forum participants summed up the coalition work. Discussed relevance of Resolution 1325 for Ukraine during the war. Noted organizations and people who contribute to resolution implementation in the region.

Among the speakers, there were Kristina SAKHNO (secretariat of the 1325-Sumshchyna coalition), Lidiia LYSACHENKO (deputy head of the Department of Social Policy of the Sumy Regional State Administration), Inna SHKOLNYK (first vice-rector of SumDU), Andriana KOSTENKO (head of the Department of Psychology, Political Science and Socio-Cultural Technologies; deputy chairman of the board of the NGO “Intellect of Sumy Region”). Other public activists joined as well.

Separately, the participants thanked SumDU for supporting initiatives to implement the “third university mission” – social interaction. It encompasses development of equality, inclusiveness and accessibility.

The award from the 1325-Sumshchyna coalition was received by Inna SHKOLNYK.

During the event, acknowledgements were presented in six nominations: to organizations and people who contribute to equality support, community development, human rights, inclusiveness and women’s entrepreneurship.

The final chord of the forum was viewing the video flash mob “Circle of Peace”, which was created by members of the 1325-Sumshchyna coalition for the anniversary. In the record, women of Sumy Oblast united their voices for peace and supported the initiative to establish 8 December as the Day of the Ukrainian Women’s Movement.

The forum installation “Voice of Peace – Women” became not only a platform for dialogue, but also a symbol of unity, strength and resilience of women in Sumy Oblast. Such initiatives remind us: implementation of Resolution 1325 is not only about equality, but also about peace, justice and involvement of everyone in the country recovery.

Such meetings form a culture of partnership, mutual support and trust – values without which it is impossible to build a stable and secure society.