The Finnish government has handed its International Gender Equality Prize to the founders of the Masha Foundation, for its work in fighting wartime violence against women.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) handed the 300,000-euro prize to the group's founders, Mariia Yefrosinina and Oksana Nechyporenko, at a ceremony in Tampere on Monday, according to a government press release.

"Determined to support Ukraine with all possible means, Finland will continue its long-term policy to promote gender equality internationally. This prize is a concrete way to help women affected by Russia's war of aggression," Orpo said in the release.

Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, Finland's social security minister responsible for gender equality issues, noted that the importance of gender equality during wartime "must not be forgotten".

"The psychological support that the Masha Foundation provides for women who have experienced violence as a result of the war is of paramount importance. It also prepares the ground for Ukraine’s reconstruction," Grahn-Laasonen said in the release.

According to the government, the foundation does significant work in combating violence against women during wartime.

"[The foundation] supports Ukrainian women in their recovery from the psychological consequences of the war and helps victims of war crimes, including women who have experienced sexual violence and have been held in captivity by Russia," the statement said.

'More important than ever'

Among other things, the Masha Foundation trains psychologists to help Ukrainian women and also operates a rehabilitation facility in Kyiv.

In a joint statement, founders Yefrosinina and Nechyporenko said they have realized how important the work of the foundation is.

"Today we can see, better than ever before, how much our work matters. It became clear to us as soon as the full-scale invasion started. It deepened our conviction that we need to be there to support Ukrainian women. Right now it is more important than ever before," their joint statement read.

The Masha Foundation was one of more than 350 nominations vying for the prize, which came from around the world. The decision about who would win was based on a proposal from an independent international prize jury, according to the government.

"The Jury unanimously decided to nominate [the] Masha Foundation as the winner of the Prize. Particular emphasis in the selection was placed on the Organisation’s focus on providing psychological assistance to women who have experienced violence, because such aid often receives little attention when talking about violence against women. The award also allows to bring gender equality more to the fore in Ukraine’s current circumstances," the jury chair, MP Saara-Sofia Sirén (NCP), said in the release.

Jury members included: former Argentinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Susana Malcorra, Ambassador Delphine O, co-founder of the Equimundo organisation Gary Barker, former Finnish MP and MEP Silvia Modig (Left), and youth representative of Plan International Nepal Smarika Pokharel.

The Finnish government awards the International Gender Equality Prize every two years. This year was the fifth occasion it was awarded.