May 18-20, UNFPA Representative in Ukraine Mr. Caspar Peek held a series of meetings with partners and mobile teams in Luhansk and Donetsk regions
UNFPA delegation met with the Head of Luhansk Regional State Administration Olga Lishyk and the Head of Donetsk Regional Administration Pavlo Zhebrivskyi. The parties discussed priorities and perspectives of cooperation between local authorities and the Fund, the impact of decentralization on the system of local response to gender-based violence, potential support to mobile teams and the creation of shelters for victims of gender-based violence. The discussion was also attended by the representatives of regional departments of social protection and health care, as well as regional centers of social services for families, children and youth.
During the visit Mr. Caspar Peek met with local mobile teams and heads of the centers of social services for families, children and youth. Psychologists and social workers who work in UNFPA mobile teams spoke about their experience working at the basis of the centers of social services and discussed ways to strengthen such cooperation.
The Fund delegation also visited community organizations that assist women from vulnerable groups. Representatives of local NGOs and volunteer groups shared information about the current situation and the urgent needs that arise in the process of providing assistance to people affected by the conflict.
Since 2015 UNFPA is actively cooperating with local authorities and NGOs in the five eastern regions most affected by the conflict. UNFPA together with the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine and other partners implements humanitarian project "Strengthening humanitarian response to the need of most vulnerable women and female adolescents affected by armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine through multi-sectorial prevention and response to GBV and access to SRH services".
In the framework of the project UNFPA has already delivered 94 SRH kits to local maternity clinics, 75 kits will be delivered to the regions this week. Also, 10 mobile teams that have already provided psycho-social assistance to over 2,300 people continue their functioning in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
