The event was organized by Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs in cooperation with the European Union Advisory Mission, the Ukrainian Association of Women in Law Enforcement, and with the support of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
The International Forum “Uniting to End Gender-Based Violence” brought together nearly 130 representatives of law enforcement agencies, international organizations, public associations, local self-government bodies, and other institutions to discuss issues of gender-based violence, including domestic violence, under martial law. Special attention was paid to preventing and combating violence against children and conflict-related sexual violence.
The event was opened by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, Honored Scientist of Ukraine Inna YASHCHUK; the Rector of the University, Doctor of Law, Professor, Police Colonel Oleksandr MORGUNOV; and the Head of the EU Advisory Mission in Ukraine, Rolf HOLMBO.
The importance and relevance of the event were emphasized, with key issues under martial law outlined by Kateryna LEVCHENKO, Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, Doctor of Law, Candidate of Philosophy, Professor; Iryna HRYTSAY, Deputy Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, Doctor of Law, Professor; Oksana CHERVIAKOVA, Representative of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights in the Kharkiv Region; Oleksii URLATKIN, Adviser to the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights in the Dnipropetrovsk Region; and Pavlo ZAMOSTYAN, Deputy Representative of the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine (UNFPA Ukraine).
Key speakers of the forum included Olena KRYSHEN, Director of the Department of Social Protection of the Population of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration, Candidate of Public Administration, Honored Economist of Ukraine; Svitlana SPAZHEVA, Deputy Head of the All-Ukrainian Association of United Territorial Communities, Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Department of the All-Ukrainian Association of UTCs, Head of the Pokrovske Territorial Community, and Head of the Gender Equality Platform; Iryna KOMPANIETS, Head of the Department for Prevention and Counteraction of Domestic Violence of the Patrol Police Department, Police Captain; Karin GÖRANSSON SEDERSTRAND, Program Manager at the Folke Bernadotte Academy in Ukraine, Gender Issues Expert; Christopher ELLIOTT, Adviser on Organized Crime Investigations; Pauline BROSH, Adviser on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence; Vira PROTSIV, Deputy Head of the Department of Educational Safety Organization of the National Police of Ukraine, Police Captain; Ivanna BOIAKIVSKA, Head of the Department of Educational Safety Organization of the Patrol Police Department; Natalia BOKOVA, Head of Public Relations of the Patrol Police Battalion in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk of the Patrol Police Department in the Donetsk Region, Police Captain; Polina KULISH, Senior Inspector of Human Resources of the Patrol Police Battalion in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk of the Patrol Police Department in the Donetsk Region, Police Captain, and Board Member of the Ukrainian Association of Women in Law Enforcement; Kateryna CHYZHYK, Head of the Psychological Space “ProZhYTY” in the Dnipropetrovsk Region; Olga SHULIK, Coordinator of the “Dnipro Region 1325” Coalition, Regional Coordinator of the Project “Women, Peace, Security: Acting Together,” Head of the NGO “Common Good,” Trainer on Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence Prevention, and other experts.
Moderators of the forum included Ove URUP-MADSEN, Head of the EUAM Mobile Unit, and Larysa NALYVAIKO, Rector’s Assistant on Gender Issues at DSUIA, Doctor of Law, Professor, Honored Lawyer of Ukraine.
The forum presented best practices and discussed innovations in current legislation and issues in the prevention and combating of domestic and gender-based violence under martial law. It highlighted the strengthening of coordination among law enforcement, social services, psychologists, civil society institutions, and international partners to protect victims of gender-based violence, particularly under armed conflict conditions. The importance of enhancing the capacity of the National Police, social services, and psychologists in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions to identify, prevent, and respond to cases of domestic violence was substantiated. Practical skills for providing comprehensive protection to victims and ensuring perpetrators are held accountable were developed. Additionally, measures to prevent such crimes through deterrence policies and judicial mechanisms for victim protection were emphasized.
The event was held in an innovative interactive format, where participants discussed the problems related to uniting the efforts of public authorities, international organizations, and public associations in combating gender-based violence, particularly domestic violence, under martial law. Special attention was paid to the role of law enforcement, social services, and other entities in preventing and countering gender-based violence, as well as protecting children and individuals with special needs.
The second day featured training sessions for local community specialists, conducted by experienced Ukrainian trainers and speakers, including Alina HARKUSHA, Trainer on Domestic Violence Prevention and Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, Candidate of Law, Associate Professor, Police Major; Kateryna MITCHENKO, Member of the Ukrainian Psychological Association and Ukrainian Association of Women in Law Enforcement, Practical Psychologist, Gatekeeper, Supervisor in a Polymodal Approach, and Psychotherapist in Training (Conconans Therapy); Mykola REPAN, Trainer on Violence Prevention and Child Protection; and Karina PISOTSKA, Expert on Domestic Violence Prevention, Doctor of Philosophy in Law, Police Senior Lieutenant.
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