Criminologist and gender expert with over 15 years of experience advising the United Nations, academia, and international organisations on gender justice, conflict sensitivity, human rights, social inclusion, and vulnerable populations, including in Syria, Ukraine, across the Middle East and Central Asia. Specialist in gender-based violence, policing and security services, prisons and the criminal justice sector, women’s and children’s rights, and victim-centred approaches. Proven track record of working in politically sensitive and fragile settings, and of authoring reports for private companies, ministries and UN offices. Fluent in Arabic and Ukrainian.
Syria: Led research and capacity building, authored reports; supported Hala Systems and the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) on gender analysis, safeguarding, conflict sensitivity, and the role of gender in the justice and accountability mechanisms; civilian protection in NW Syria.
Jordan and Lebanon: Research on enforced disappearances and LGBTQ+ and gender, education reforms in collaboration with UN agencies (International Organisation for Migration and United Nations Development Programme) and local ministries; direct fieldwork with women in the police and security agencies in Jordan, capacity building programmes for the government of Jordan on cross-border crime, gender, and counter terrorism.
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan: Government advisory roles on gender mainstreaming and education sector reform; worked closely with ministries and the police on curriculum development and institutional change in partnership with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Organisation for Security and Cooperation of Europe (OSCE).
Ukraine: Gender sensitivity programming and social protection of abducted children; supported Hala Systems and Save Ukraine with reviewing safeguarding policy and gender analysis with a focus on families and child protection.
Indonesia: Government advisory roles on reintegration and rehabilitation of Indonesian nationals after their repatriation from Syria and Iraq. Conducted policy analysis and capacity building on reintegration of former extremist offenders and social protection, with a gender and vulnerability lens, working in collaboration with the government of Indonesia and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The expert has authored a wide range of reports for private companies, governments and UN offices, addressing:
- gender-based violence
- civilian protection
- conflict sensitivity
- the rights of vulnerable and marginalised groups - including women, children, and LGBTQ+ persons and minorities - within complex humanitarian and transitional justice contexts.
Rushchenko, J. (2025). Redefining Masculinities: Navigating Pushback to Gender Mainstreaming in the MENA region. Journal of International and Prospective Studies. Vol. 1, No. 1, June.
Rushchenko, J. (2024). Gender and Civilian Protection: Incorporating a Gender Perspective into Product Design and Tech Solutions. Literature Review. Hala Systems, Lisbon.
Rushchenko, J. (2023). Integrating a Gender Lens into the Monitoring and Evaluation of Rehabilitation Programmes for Violent Extremists. Al Mesbar Studies and Research Centre, United Arab Emirates (in Arabic).
Rushchenko, J. (2023). Women, Peace and Security and Border Management: The Role of Gender in Human Trafficking, Counter Terrorism, and other Cross-Border Crimes. IOM. Jordan (training manual, unpublished).
Rushchenko, J. (2022). NATO and the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda. NATO Defense College. Ed. by Thierry Tardy. Rome, Italy.
Rushchenko, J. (2020). Exit from Extremist Groups and Reintegration: Bringing Evidence into Policy. In: The New Syria? Critical Perspectives on the De-radicalisation and Reintegration of Islamist offenders, Ed. by Emma Webb, Civitas.
Rushchenko, J. (2019). Terrorist Recruitment and the Crime-Terror Nexus in Prisons: The UK Experiment of Separation Centres. European Journal of Criminology. Special Issue on the Crime-Terror Nexus.
Rushchenko, J. (2018). Prison Management of Terrorism-Related Offenders: Is Separation Effective? The Henry Jackson Society, Centre for the Response to Terrorism and Radicalisation. London.
Rushchenko, J. (2017). Converts to Islam and Homegrown Jihadism. The Henry Jackson Society, Centre for the Response to Terrorism and Radicalisation. London.
Rushchenko, J. (2017). Counter Terrorism, Foreign Fighters and Criminal Justice Responses in Europe. New Vistas. Ed. by Joelle Fanghanel. Vol. 3, Issue 1, pp. 24-27.
Rushchenko, J. (2017). Docile Housewives or Empowered Entrepreneurs? Gender, Fraud and Victimisation in the Context of Transnational Marriages in Germany. Universität Hamburg.
Rushchenko, J. (2016). Solidarity Marriage for Undocumented Migrants in Germany: Between Kindness and Crime? In Spatial Justice and Diaspora, ed. by Pachett E. and Keenan, S. Counterpress.