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Add to Preferred SourcesGender-based violence has long been a serious problem in Ukraine. Some 75 percent of women in the country said that they had experienced some form of violence since age 15, and one in three had experienced physical or sexual violence according to a 2019 survey supported by UNFPA.
And under the pandemic, the situation has only worsened: The national hotline on domestic violence saw a 23 percent increase in calls during the first month of quarantine. The second month saw a 72 percent increase over the pre-quarantine period.
But the Government is committed to overcoming these challenges. One year ago, at the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, the Government pledged to end gender-based violence and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and girls by the year 2030.
And in September, the president signed a decree to press for a more efficient and systemic response to violence, prioritizing the rights and interests of survivors.
UNFPA is supporting the Government on all parts of Ukraine’s 2019 commitment, including supporting programmes that provide social services, protection, and legal aid to survivors of violence.
During the pandemic, many of these services pivoted to new platforms. Survivors of violence no longer have phone for help if they are isolated at home with an abuser, for example. They can reach services through Viber, Messenger, and other silent tools.
As Ukraine’s quarantine began to ease in May, the number of calls to emergency hotlines began to stabilize. By September, the number of calls had fallen to pre-quarantine levels. But UNFPA’s and the Government’s efforts are not letting up.
Several initiatives have been launched, and more are underway, to upend gender discriminatory norms and empower women and girls through education and economic development.
Original source: UNFPA