Ukraine

CONTEXT

Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, the war in Ukraine has led to mass human rights violations. The full-scale invasion launched in 2022 has further escalated these crimes, particularly conflict-related sexual violence. Investigations conducted by international organizations, Ukrainian prosecutors, and civil society actors have revealed widespread and systematic sexual violence, affecting women, men, and children.

These crimes take multiple forms, including rape, sexual violence in detention, public humiliation threats, and sexual violence targeting victims' relatives.

While efforts to document these crimes and support survivors have intensified, significant barriers remain:

Limited access to medical and psychosocial care due to the ongoing conflict.

Stigma and fear preventing survivors from coming forward.

Legal and institutional gaps in documenting and prosecuting these crimes.

WWoW is actively engaged in supporting survivors, improving documentation, and advocating for justice in Ukraine.

OUR WORK IN UKRAINE

Kyiv Symposium on conflict-related sexual violence (November 2024)

In partnership with Stand Speak Rise Up! (SSRU) and the Women’s Information Consultative Center (WICC), WWoW organized a closed-door symposium in Kyiv to address challenges in documenting, preventing, and prosecuting CRSV in Ukraine.

Key objectives of the symposium

Identify barriers survivors face in accessing care and justice.

Raise awareness of the different forms of CRSV, including crimes against men and boys.

Facilitate dialogue between survivors, civil society actors, and justice professionals.

Strengthen collaboration between government, legal experts, and national and international organizations.

Digital innovations: BackUp in Ukraine

WWoW conducted a feedback session on the BackUp tool during the symposium. BackUp is a secure digital platform allowing survivors to report incidents safely, access essential services, and contribute to justice efforts.

Key takeaways from the session:

Survivors and experts evaluated the tool’s usability in the Ukrainian context.
Adjustments were proposed to enhance accessibility, particularly for survivors who had been in captivity.
WWoW is committed to adapting the platform based on survivor and practitioner feedback.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BACKUP