FEMALE COMBATANTS AS AN OBJECT OF SOCIAL WORK

Abstract

With the outbreak of a full-scale war, the number of women serving in the military and defending the integrity and independence of Ukraine has significantly increased. Every woman going to the front has her reason for making such a decision. The Armed Forces of Ukraine currently actively work to raise the number of female military personnel. Given the increase in the number of women participating in hostilities, the issue of obtaining appropriate guarantees for this target audience to maintain the functions of motherhood and simultaneously perform official duties during military service is relevant. Female combatants are one of the important categories of the population that needs social and psychological support and assistance both at the level of the territorial community and at the state level. As an object of social work, female combatants require professional help, as they have their own specific requests and needs that must be met. Research methods applied: theoretical analysis of scientific literature, legal documents and Internet sources, which made it possible to analyze the system of provision of social services to combatants. Female combatants are a new object of social work, and in the provision of social services to this category, it is necessary to involve specialists in social work, as well as representatives of the entire territorial community. State organizations, the public sector, community residents, and initiative groups should be involved in assessing the needs and requests of this target group in order to provide quality services. Perception of women as a vulnerable group of the population and providing them with social assistance, creating additional opportunities for participation in decision-making at the level of local communities, the state, and society as a whole, and reducing gender inequality, become components of ensuring sustainable social development.