Strengthening Responses to Gender-Based Violence in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine has captivated global attention over the last two and a half years, yet there is a concurrent crisis in Ukraine receiving far less airtime even as it affects the lives of millions of Ukrainians—gender-based violence (GBV).

Since the escalation of the war in February of 2022, over 13 million Ukrainians have been forced out of their homes, with women and girls accounting for 60% of those internally displaced and 90% of those who have fled Ukraine. This instability and displacement have increased the vulnerability of women and girls to human trafficking, GBV, and other trauma.

A report from 2023 revealed that in the first five months of that year, reported cases of domestic violence increased by 51% compared to the same period in the previous year, with 3.6 million people in need of GBV services. The strong correlation between GBV and economic instability, in addition to the psychological and mental ramifications, make the necessity of protection-centered responses in Ukraine even more critical.

The Exacerbation of GBV

Due to the war, the services that many women and girls access for post-assault care, psychological and trauma services, and legal advice are at reduced capacity. Fighting and other hostilities continue to damage critical infrastructure, making services more inaccessible and putting vulnerable groups at further risk. Only 20% of Ukrainian women seek medical care after being a victim of sexual violence, and there is little data on the awareness and prevalence of forms of GBV across the country.

A recent survey conducted by World Vision and Divchata (also known as NGO Girls), a Ukrainian women-led organization, is intended to reduce the gap in GBV data and awareness in Ukraine. Through focus groups and online surveys, it found that the war has accelerated women’s recognition of signs of violence, sexism, and gender norms. More broadly, participants most frequently identified GBV in cases of physical or sexual violence, with psychological or financial abuse being less recognizable forms of GBV.

Women on the Frontlines

The Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health (UFPH), a woman-led organization partnering with World Vision, is stepping into that gap to provide vulnerable women with the support and services they need. Halfway houses allow survivors of domestic violence, pregnant women, and mothers to access stable sources of food and shelter in addition to medical care, legal services, and psychological support.

Oksana,* a Ukrainian mother of two young children, made the decision to leave her husband after experiencing domestic violence in her home. After leaving, she struggled to find a place with safe accommodations for herself and her children, until she found a halfway house run by UFPH.

“Since arriving here, I finally feel safe. The staff have been incredibly supportive. During the first month, I was still anxious and fearful, but thanks to working with a psychologist, I started to feel the weight of that fear lifting,” Oksana shared. “Such facilities provide invaluable assistance to women who have experienced domestic violence. Of course, I would prefer that more places like this exist, but with fewer experiences like mine.”

Between August 2022 and July 2023, two of these halfway houses provided shelter and care to 33 women and 47 children, allowing them the space to recover and rebuild in safety while receiving vital services and support from trained facilitators. Yet, with the increasing need for these services, more halfway houses are necessary to continue to provide safe places and resources to women and their children.

Toward a Brighter Future for Women and Girls

In the survey led by Divchata and World Vision, 36% of respondents were unaware of any measures in place to prevent GBV, while 24% said that nothing had been done in their community to prevent and respond to GBV. These perceptions reveal the need to continue strengthening the response and support mechanisms for survivors of GBV, including expanded coordination between government and civil society. It also demonstrates that increasing awareness of all forms of GBV through training and educational programs for children and parents would reduce stigma and help empower survivors of GBV to access existing services and support mechanisms.

Under the leadership of local Ukrainian organizations, the international community can amplify the work being done on the ground to advocate for GBV survivors. There is no quick fix for preventing GBV, especially amid crisis, but using data to define where the gaps are is one of the first steps in reaching those at the most risk of experiencing it.

Partnering with Ukrainian, women-led organizations like UFPH and Divchata is just one of the ways that the international community can commit to community-based, sustainable development and relief focused on the needs of the vulnerable.

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*Name changed to protect identity.

Note: The views expressed in this blog are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect those of InterAction.