EARLIER this year, Ukraine began the process of reforming one of its most oppressive institutions: its police force.

Before the recent revolution, the police were seen as bullies, crooks and murderers, to be avoided by civilians at all costs. Among their other calls for change, protesters demanded the complete transformation of the law enforcement system.

Interestingly, two women are at the forefront of this effort: Eka Zguladze, the first deputy interior minister, and Khatia Dekanoidze, the country’s national police chief. In addition to improving training programs and introducing new uniforms, they have also overseen a rapid increase in the hiring of female police officers.

Once there were almost no women in police uniform, and now about a quarter of the officers are women. This is significant in a country where gender equality is a distant dream. Many jobs are still considered too demanding for women, so seeing women in uniform on a regular basis could be a first step toward changing social attitudes.