Crisis room for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence launches in Okhtyrka
Backed by financial support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Rokada has set up a crisis room in Okhtyrka, Sumy region, for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence.
The work began in winter of 2025. The fund’s team completely renovated the premises – including walls, ceilings, doorways, and final finishes. They also fully equipped the space with household appliances, furniture, laptops, and printers.
“At the same time, we took accessibility recommendations into account. In particular, we adapted the bathroom for women with different levels of mobility,” said project manager Alisa Lakhmanova.
A crisis room for survivors of domestic violence and/or gender-based violence is serves as social housing. People who have survived domestic or gender-based violence and have no other safe place to live away from their abuser can temporarily move here. For example, this could be a mother with children, a pregnant woman, or an elderly woman. The premises are designed to accommodate two families at a time.
The address of the crisis room is confidential.
“The address is kept confidential to ensure the safety of those fleeing their abusers. This is the practice of crisis shelters worldwide. The location is only disclosed to individuals who have experienced violence and has turned to a crisis center or a mobile psychosocial support team for help,” said project coordinator in the Sumy region Valentyna Ihnatusha.
Survivors of violence who have no other safe shelter away from their abuser can stay here free of charge for up to ten days.
The new crisis room complements existing domestic violence services within the community. For over two years, a mobile social and psychological support team has been operating under the Okhtyrka City Center for Social Services. During this period, specialists received more than 160 reports of domestic and/or gender-based violence. In March 2026, a Crisis Center was launched in Okhtyrka to provide vital psychological support to the entire local population, which faces constant stress, and to introduce new social services.
«The launch of this crisis room allows us to scale up the support system for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence,” said project manager Alisa Lakhmanova. “It will foster systemic change, moving from isolated interventions to a sustainable, long-term assistance network. At the same time, we continue to run mobile psychosocial support teams and safe spaces for women and girls, alongside providing other services focused on preventing all forms of gender-based violence.”
The crisis room was established with the support of the Okhtyrka City Council in the Sumy region, UNFPA (the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine), and with financial backing from the European Union and the Government of Norway, in partnership with the Rokada Charitable Foundation.
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the leading UN agency focusing its efforts on gender equality, reproductive health, and youth empowerment. Together with its partners, UNFPA has been working in 150 countries and territories worldwide, and in Ukraine since 1997.
For more information about UNFPA and its work in Ukraine, visit: https://ukraine.unfpa.org/ru
