Oksana Potapova

In 2019, Potapova stated that the term "gender equality" was no longer taboo in Ukraine, but laws and political will to promote gender equality were weak, and the war in Donbas exacerbated the reality of discrimination against women.^[4]

Potapova argues that women's participation in peace processes differs from that of men, since the violence that is to be reduced involves both the violence of the armed conflict and violence against women more generally. She also sees intersectionality as important, so that not only women, but also discriminated minorities are involved in peace negotiations.^[1]

In December 2021, Potapova expressed support for the newly launched OSCE Networking Platform for Women Leaders including Peacebuilders and Mediators.^[1] She argues that women's organisations should be involved in peacebuilding.^[3]

Potapova argued for replacing military public debate about being "at war" and the "enemy" by a "feminist agenda" of "care, support, solidarity and equality". She called for women to be involved in decision-making processes immediately rather than only after crises. Potapova argued that women's advocacy was becoming more effective in Ukraine by the use of research data and analysis.^[3]

Potapova argues that the COVID-19 pandemic brought attention to the role of the care economy, part of the informal economy, "childcare, motherhood, caring for the elderly, caring for the sick, activism", which she argued should become a priority over the "profit-driven economy".^[5]

• Theatre for dialogue – Oksana Potapova and other team members (Archived 2020-02-01 at the Wayback Machine)