Legal and regulatory framework for gender policy in the field of infrastructure security

Ensuring gender equality is one of the key components of sustainable development and democratisation of society. In the context of Ukraine's integration into the European community, the issue of developing and implementing an effective gender policy in various areas, including infrastructure security, is becoming increasingly important. The analysis of the current legislation shows insufficient detail of the mechanisms for implementing gender policy, especially in the field of critical infrastructure, which creates obstacles to achieving equal opportunities for women and men in professional activities. The purpose of the study is to identify gaps in Ukraine's legal framework for integrating gender policy into infrastructure security and to develop recommendations for their elimination based on international standards and best practices. The study was conducted using the methods of analysis and synthesis of legal acts, comparison of national legislation with international standards, and critical analysis of the practice of implementing gender policy in Ukraine. The article identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the current legal acts regulating gender equality and infrastructure security. Gaps in the legislation are identified, in particular, the lack of clear mechanisms for ensuring equal opportunities in professional activities and insufficient coordination between central and local authorities. Recommendations for improving the regulatory framework aimed at integrating a gender approach into infrastructure security are proposed. The results of the study emphasize the need to increase attention to gender equality in the field of infrastructure security through the development of specialized provisions in laws and the introduction of effective mechanisms for implementing gender policy. This will contribute not only to social justice, but also to improving the efficiency of critical infrastructure. Prospects for further research include detailing practical mechanisms for integrating a gender approach into the legal framework and analyzing their impact on the functioning of infrastructure security.