Why is preventing gender-based violence important for Ukraine today?

According to estimates by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), almost 2.4 million people in Ukraine need services to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. In wartime, its manifestations may increase, especially for women, children, older people, people with disabilities and internally displaced Ukrainians.

In response to these risks, UNFPA has deployed mobile teams in nine regions. Each team consists of psychologists and social workers. Their work involves responding to cases of gender-based violence, supporting people who have experienced it, and prevention and awareness-raising.

To provide systematic support, deliver help more effectively and keep pace with colleagues abroad and modern methods, mobile team specialists are improving their knowledge.

Teams from Chernihiv, Nizhyn, Shostka, Konotop, Lviv and Zhytomyr took part in a training where they worked with international standards for psychosocial support to survivors of gender-based violence, analysed how they are applied in Ukraine and discussed approaches that make support more accessible, safer and more sensitive to people’s needs.

During the workshops, we emphasised how important it is, when working with survivors, not to focus only on the crisis situation at the moment – a person often needs systematic support, help in restoring a sense of safety and an understanding of where to turn next. So the approach must be comprehensive and attentive to the individual needs of everyone who reaches out.

The mobile teams also analysed their own cases and simulated crisis situations.

Such trainings help to systematise practical experience. When you work in a community, you constantly face difficult stories and great emotional tension. The opportunity to work through complex cases with colleagues, discuss response mechanisms and see other approaches allows you to work more confidently and effectively.

Mobile social and psychological support teams work in Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Lviv, Rivne, Sumy, Kharkiv, Cherkasy and Chernihiv regions.

Every day in communities, the specialists provide access to psychological support, social support and consultations for people who have experienced domestic or gender-based violence.

You can seek advice and help in your community:

The mobile teams in Chernihiv, Nizhyn, Shostka, Konotop, Lviv and Zhytomyr operate with the support of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine, in coordination with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine. The mobile teams’ services are provided thanks to financial support from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief).