THE MECHANISM FOR ENSURING GENDER EQUALITY IN THE FIELD OF FORENSIC EXPERTISE: A BALANCED GENDER POLICY

Abstract

The article is devoted to the scientific problems of the theory and practice of public administration of forensic expert activity, related to ensuring the principle of gender equality in forensic activity and delineating the area of scientific research in this field of knowledge. At present there is a lack of comprehensive studies of the mechanism for ensuring the principle of gender equality in the field of forensic expert activity, which renders this research topical. The present paper aims to study the mechanism of ensuring the principle of gender equality in the field of forensic expert activity. To achieve this aim, the author used a range of scientific research methods: comparative analysis, generalization, formal-legal, systemic and structural, semantic analysis, dialectical, and legal forecasting. They were used to analyse legislation, scientific sources and formulate the author’s conclusions and proposals. The article proposes a definition of the concept of the ‘mechanism for ensuring the principle of gender equality in the field of forensic expert activity’, as well as  directions for making effective management decisions and conducting a reasonable gender policy in the field of forensic science. It is imperative to implement document management in the field of forensic science with due regard for the principles of non-discrimination of speech/language by implementing strategies of feminisation, neutralisation, avoidance of androcentrism and sexism. The author emphasises the need to ensure the use of gender-sensitive, non-discriminatory speech and feminine forms, which are permissible under the modern standards of the Ukrainian language, along with masculine equivalents in order to refer to persons of different genders. Attention is drawn to the expediency of introducing gender audits of specialised state forensic institutions, their territorial branches, expert institutions of communal ownership, as well as forensic experts who are not employees of these institutions, and developing methodological recommendations as to their conduct at certain intervals. The article summarises that the gender dimension should become an integral component of the process of developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating policies and activities in the field of forensic science, so that women and men receive equal benefits and their rights to equality and non-discrimination be protected. On this basis, the conclusion is made that it is necessary to develop a gender equality strategy in the field of forensic science, which will define the goals, priorities, expected gender-specific results, ways, mechanisms and activities that will ensure their achievement.