LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR GENDER EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION IN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Abstract

Introduction. Contemporary corporate governance increasingly extends beyond economic efficiency and internal managerial autonomy to encompass compliance with principles of transparency, accountability, human rights protection, and equal treatment. In this context, gender equality and non-discrimination have become important legal standards for the functioning of the corporate sector, particularly in light of Ukraine’s European integration commitments and the gradual alignment of national legislation with EU legal frameworks.

Purpose. The purpose of this article is to examine the legal framework for ensuring gender equality and non-discrimination in corporate governance, with a focus on international standards, European Union law, and the national legislation of Ukraine, as well as to identify directions for improving legal regulation in this area.

Materials and methods. The research is based on international and European legal instruments, Ukrainian legislation in the fields of corporate, labour, and anti-discrimination law, as well as relevant academic literature. The methodological framework includes doctrinal legal analysis, formal legal interpretation, and comparative legal analysis.

Results. The study demonstrates that Ukrainian legislation provides general legal guarantees of equality and protection against discrimination, yet lacks specialised corporate law mechanisms aimed at ensuring gender equality in corporate governance. In particular, the current legal framework does not adequately regulate internal anti-discrimination procedures, gender-sensitive governance practices, or compliance mechanisms tailored to corporate decision-making processes. Comparative analysis with EU legal developments, including recent regulatory initiatives concerning gender balance in corporate boards, highlights the need for a more systematic integration of equality standards into corporate governance regulation.

Future research should address the implementation of European legal standards in Ukrainian corporate governance, the legal structuring of internal anti-discrimination procedures, and the incorporation of gender equality principles into corporate compliance and diversity governance frameworks. Further scholarly attention is also warranted with regard to the enforcement of equality standards within corporate legal relations.