UNFPA, with the support from the USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), held a roundtable for the Inter-Agency Network on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Ukraine, which took place on 25-26 April in Kyiv. The event brought together 45 representatives from UN, NGO, and civil society organizations to discuss how to implement a multi-year strategy on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, with a focus on improving survivors' access to quality services.
During the roundtable, Ms. Kateryna Levchenko, Government Commissioner for Gender Equality, reaffirmed the government's commitment to advancing women's rights and gender equality. This commitment is especially important given the changing operational context in Ukraine in 2022, which prompted a review of the inter-agency PSEA Programme.
The existing inter-agency coordination structure and framework were reviewed to ensure inclusiveness, efficiency, and greater operationalization of the work on protection against sexual exploitation and abuse at the sub-national level. As a result, a multi-year strategy was developed to address the issue more effectively.
The roundtable resulted in several key recommendations on how to overcome barriers to reporting, identify and mitigate risks in humanitarian programs, develop an inter-agency communication plan, provide effective referral services for survivors, and strengthen partner capacity to prevent and respond to allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse. These recommendations are crucial for improving the protection of vulnerable populations and ensuring that survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse have access to the support and services they need.
In conclusion, the roundtable on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse in Ukraine was a crucial event that brought together key stakeholders to discuss important issues and develop recommendations for improving the situation in the country.
