First operation results of the National hot line 24/7 presented at the roundtable

March 29, a roundtable "Challenges of Istanbul Convention: how is the National hot line on domestic violence operating 24/7" was organized in Kyiv with the support of UNFPA. The event was dedicated to the presentation of the first results of the National hot line on domestic violence, which in partnership of UNFPA and NGO "La Strada Ukraine" began its operation 24/7 starting this February.

Functioning of the National hot line on domestic violence and human trafficking 24/7 is one of the key conditions for access of survivors to quality services. Therefore, the operation of such hot line is among the requirements of the Istanbul Convention.

As UNFPA Representative to Ukraine, Caspar Peek, noted "When we talk about Sustainable development goals and the Istanbul Convention, we really talk about people who are deprived of their human right to enjoy a life free of violence. 22% of Ukrainian women at some point of their life experience violence. And this is about those women to have access to quality service."

The roundtable was also attended by representatives from the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Education, experts, consultants of regional hot lines and partners from international and local NGOs.

Natalia Fedorovych, the Director of the Department on family, gender policy and combating human trafficking of the Ministry of Social Policy thanked UNFPA for the support and stressed the importance of "strengthening the national mechanism of interaction to make the operation of the hot line the most effective and efficient."

The participants discussed cooperation with international and national organizations and especially with government agencies and ways to improve referral and collaboration among organizations that provide assistance to survivors.