Elena Zelenskaya: Urgent reparations of victims of sexual violence by the occupiers is a step towards restoring justice

The First Lady of Ukraine Elena Zelenska participated in the International Conference "Restoration of the Rights of Victims of Sexual Violence related to Conflict: Peace and World Security" held in Kiev. The event was also joined by: European and Euro-Atlantic integration, Olga Stephanyshyn, other representatives of the government, parliament, public organizations and a wide range of international partners.

Representatives of countries such as Britain, Japan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Luxembourg, Norway, Columbia, Switzerland, Moldova, Sweden, Finland, etc. took part in the conference. The event has united the international community to strengthen effective assistance to all those who suffered from sexual violence during Russia's war against Ukraine, as well as to find ways to achieve real justice.

The conference emphasized that one of the key elements for the restoration of the rights of victims of sexual violence related to conflict should be reparations. The first lady noted that the victims of sexual violence during the war cannot wait for "classic" reparations when the war will end or when Russia agrees to pay the refund. You must act immediately.

“The reparations of victims of gross human rights abuses, including victims of conflict -related sexual violence, is not just economic support. This is an important step to restoring justice. And such justice is needed not only in Ukraine. Justice for Ukrainian victims of violence is now a mirror for the world, ”Olena Zelenska said.

Within the framework of the event, Viceremier-Minister Olga Stephanyshyn presented the first in Ukraine on urgent intermediate reparations for victims of sexual violence during the war. The initiative is a unique case in the history of repair measures, when the state, together with civil society and non -state organizations during the war, has been developing steps to pay urgent intermediate reparations.

The project involves the identification and identification of victims of sexual abuse, determining the compliance of each case with the criteria of sexual abuse, as well as direct payment of intermediate compensation by the identified victims. It will first take into account the personal approach to everyone/every victim, as well as their proposals. Yes, the victims have already been attached to all processes within the implementation of the project.

The initiative provides for one -off interim compensation to all identified victims by the end of October 2024. Within the pilot project, one -off intermediate compensation will be able to receive 500 people. The project was initiated by the Viceremier Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine together with the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy and the Global Fund for Violence (Global Survivors Fund).

It is implemented in cooperation with the Office of the Prosecutor General, the International Damage Register and the Ministry of Justice. “Until the international compensation mechanism and confiscated assets of Russia are not aimed at supporting Ukraine, it is also very important to us with appropriate assistance from partner countries. We cannot abolish the pain that the aggressor has already caused. But we can be painful for this pain.

To show that not everyone in the world is killers and rapists. That there is help and support. There is justice. What is something to live, ”the presidential wife emphasized. The event organized the Government of Ukraine with the support of the UK government in partnership with the Association of Women-Lawyer of Ukraine "Yurfem" and the Ukrainian Women's Fund. Certificate. As of today, prosecutors have recorded 274 facts of conflict -related sexual violence (SNPK).

It is difficult to assess the true scale of these crimes in view of the continuation of hostilities, temporary occupation from Russia by part of the Ukrainian territories, restricted access of citizens to assistance and stigma, because of which the victims do not want to report crimes. The experience of other countries shows that victims can report SNPC in many years.