On the 19th June a press conference, dedicated to the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, was held in Kyiv. The event was attended by Olga Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine; Oksana Zholnovych, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine; Viktoriia Litvinova, Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine; Kateryna Levchenko, Government Commissioner for Gender Policy; Massimo Diana, UNFPA Representative in Ukraine.
To draw society's attention to the importance of supporting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, an art installation was unveiled at the press conference. The painting was created by Yulia Tveritina in partnership with the Port of Culture cultural development agency The painting depicts figures of women and men filled with rapeseed flowers, chosen in 2023 as a symbol of preventing and opposing conflict-related sexual violence in Ukraine. Executed in the kintsugi technique, which involves repairing broken things with gold, the painting's elements symbolize the healing of traumatic experiences, starting a path to recovery.
At a press conference, the first results of a pilot project regarding the payment of urgent interim reparations to survivors were presented. Additionally, the results of the work of the network of Survivor Relief Centers, which provide assistance to people affected by war, including survivors of CRSV, were presented.
"Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. For Ukraine, it is about joining forces against the violence, torture, and terror perpetrated by the russian federation in our territories. Since the beginning of the full-scale aggression by the russian federation, prosecutors have recorded 303 instances of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and we still do not know the complete number of victims," Olga Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine. "At the same time, we understand that providing support and working to establish real peace is our joint duty. Therefore, we have launched the pilot project for urgent interim reparations, alongside expanding the network of Survivor Relief Centers, enhancing national legislation and cooperating with international partners.”
According to Oksana Zholnovych, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, Ukraine has expanded the network of special services for survivors of violence to include support for survivors of war-related sexual violence. Currently, there are 1084 services operating throughout Ukraine.
As of June 18, 2024, 303 cases of conflict-related sexual violence have been registered in Ukraine, with 112 male and 191 female victims. However, according to the UN, there are 10-20x more cases that go unregistered.
Viktoriia Litvinova, Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine: “Russia uses sexual violence as a weapon of war, committing systemic and widespread crimes that must be punished in Ukrainian and international courts. We are grateful to all who provide evidence, especially regarding such sensitive crimes as sexual violence. Our state and society must honor their courage and provide comprehensive support for healing from the traumas endured, ensuring the respect, safety, and justice they deserve."
In 2015, the UN General Assembly declared June 19 as the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence In Conflict. Every year on this day, a conference is held in Ukraine to discuss existing projects and future steps to combat and address issues related to conflict-related sexual violence in Ukraine.
“Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, the UN system in Ukraine has been actively engaged in responding to CRSV. Two years ago, UNFPA Ukraine, together with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, launched the first Survivor Relief Center in Zaporizhzhia which became a safe space for people affected by war, particularly those who survived CRSV. Currently, such centres operate in 12 cities of Ukraine. UNFPA is now working together with partners to address the consequences of CRSV and assist survivors of these crimes,” Massimo Diana, UNFPA Representative in Ukraine.
Survivors can receive confidential, qualified and free-of-charge psychosocial support at Survivor Relief Centers, located at addresses provided on the website.
The Survivor Relief Centers are the initiative of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, with assistance from the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, and support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). UNFPA is thankful to the governments of Austria, Belgium, Spain, and Sweden for their financial support, and to local authorities for their cooperation on the ground.
