The shelter, designed specifically for the needs of survivors, is a safe space where survivors can live free from violence and get psychological and legal advice and assistance finding employment.
Up to 12 women with children can stay in the shelter at the same time. The facility has all the conditions for a long-term stay, from three to six months. If necessary, servivors will be able to get help with finding a new home.
H.E. Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine Larisa Galadza-Kronin, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Oksana Zholnovych, Deputy Representative of UNFPA in Ukraine Mustafa Elkanzi and representatives of local authorities visited the opening of the shelter.
“We see a tremendous development in Khotyn aiming to prevent and combat all forms of violence in the community. The opening of a shelter in Khotyn during the war is an incredible example of what can be achieved when international partners, the government and local authorities work together for a common goal, as it is the first shelter within the UNFPA project, opened since the full-scale invasion. This step shows that Ukraine is moving forward and creats specialized services for survivors of various forms of violence, even during war, and the topic of gender-based violence remains a priority for the national government and local authorities” said H.E. Larisa Galadza-Cronin, Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine.
"I am very glad that the initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine is developing even during a full-scale war, and that our country is consistently moving towards effective response against domestic violence. On the example of the Khotyn community and, in particular, the opening of the shelter, we see a comprehensive approach, from determining the needs of the community for services and managing the case to providing a specialized services for protection from domestic violence. Therefore, it is this kind of systematic work that allows survivors to be protected, and the local residents to feel that they are being cared for. The development of social services is an extremely important component of a comfortable life in the community and one of the markers for Ukrainians to make a decision to return to the Motherland," said the Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine.
"We are gathered today to celebrate the achievement of our joint efforts," said UNFPA Deputy Representative Mustafa Elkanzi. "We are grateful to the Government of Canada for their generous support to UNFPA programs to ensure Ukrainian women and girls have safe and dignified access to shelters and services. We thank our partners, the Ministry of Social Policy, Khotyn City Council and Chernivtsi Oblast Military Administration, for their commitment to making the plight of women and girls a high priority and for translating this commitment to tangible results as demonstrated by this facility we are opening today" said Deputy Representative of UNFPA in Ukraine Mustafa Elkanzi.
The local authorities in Khotyn spent one year renovating the shelter. Today, the city has a crisis room, day-care centre, counselling service and support from a mobile social and psychological support team.
The development of this life-saving shelter in Khotyn was made possible thanks to the financial support from the Government of Canada within UNFPA GBV Response and Prevention Programme.
