Providing urgent interim reparations to victims of sexual violence during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine today should become an important element of achieving justice in the future.
Stefanishyna presented the project on reparations
The Deputy PM for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Olha Stefanishyna, raised the issue of reparations to victims during the international conference "Restoring the rights of victims of conflict-related sexual violence: an element of peace and global security" in Kyiv.
The conference united the international community to strengthen the implementation of practical assistance to all those who suffered from sexual violence during Russia's war against Ukraine, as well as to search for ways to achieve natural justice.
It was said that one of the key elements for restoring the rights of victims of conflict-related sexual violence should be reparations.
The event was attended by:
First Lady Olena Zelenska,
representatives of the Government and Parliament,
NGOs,
A wide range of international partners, in particular from the following countries: Great Britain, Japan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Luxembourg, Norway, Colombia, Switzerland, Moldova, Sweden, Finland and others.
First Lady Olena Zelenska emphasised that victims of sexual violence during the war cannot wait for "classical" reparations when the war ends or when Russia agrees to pay reparations. You need to act immediately.
During the event, Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyna presented the first project in Ukraine on urgent interim reparations for victims of sexual violence during the war.
From the very beginning of the full-scale war, we began to receive information about cases of crimes of sexual violence and the use of torture against the Ukrainian population by Russian servicemen. We united within the country and with our international partners and began to act for the benefit of the victims. We have deployed Survivor Assistance Centers nationwide so everyone can get help. But we understand that this is not enough. Therefore, we are launching a pilot project to pay urgent interim reparations. This will help restore the rights of victims.
Olga Stefanishyna
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine
The project provides for the identification and identification of victims of sexual violence, the determination of compliance of each case with the criteria of sexual violence, as well as the direct payment of interim compensation to the identified victims.
The project will primarily take into account a personal approach to each victim, as well as their suggestions. Within the framework of the Pilot project, 500 people will be able to receive one-time interim compensation.
Within the framework of the event, in particular, it was discussed that currently, the Government and the Parliament, in close coordination with the victims, have already done a lot of work on legislative initiatives to create a confidential Register of victims of Russia's armed aggression, the status of CRSV victims (Conflict-Related Sexual Violence — Ed.) and the provision of urgent interim reparations.
In particular, it was emphasised that Ukraine's experience can become advanced and serve as a guide for other countries that are in a state of armed conflict.
Among the participants of the conference were also:
Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict;
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Special Representative of UK Prime Minister for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict and Minister of State;
Stella Ronner-Grubačić, EU Ambassador for Gender Equality and Diversity;
Andriy Kostin, Prosecutor General of Ukraine;
Denise Brown, Coordinator of UN Programs in Ukraine;
Irene Fellin, Special Representative of the NATO Secretary General for Women, Peace and Security;
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights;
Kateryna Pavlichenko, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and others.
You can get more details about the event here on the European integration portal.
What is essential to know about CRSV
Ukrainian NGO "UA Experts" is trying to raise awareness that gender-based violence takes many forms, trying to encourage more reporting of Russian abuse, even if no one is physically harmed.
It is reported by The New York Times.
The NGO "UA Experts" claims that gender-based violence is not only rape and hopes to change laws to define conflict-related sexual violence as a separate crime. Documenting such cases together with rape cases will provide a more complete picture of gender-based violence during the Russian occupation.
Many victims of this type of violence, which can consist of being forced to undress or being watched while visiting the toilet, did not want to talk about their experiences due to stigma or the belief that such actions are not considered a crime during the war, "UA Experts" explain.
Documenting such cases, together with rape cases, will show the whole picture of gender violence during the Russian occupation.
