A training session on interagency cooperation in working with victims of domestic and gender-based violence was held at Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs. The event was organized by the Department of Administrative Law and Procedure.
The session brought together patrol police officers from Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Poltava regions who are undergoing long-term advanced training. Representatives of the NGO “Dnipro League of Social Workers” also participated in the event as part of the project “Social Initiatives for Families at the Community Level in Dnipropetrovsk Region.”
The audience was addressed by Viktoriia Osmanova, coordinator of the social services development hub of the NGO “Dnipro League of Social Workers,” and Ivanka Velychko, a certified trainer on gender-based violence and case management. The main objective of the session was to ensure comprehensive protection for victims, including psychological, legal, social, and medical support.
This area of work is especially relevant given the profound harm caused by domestic and gender-based violence—not only to the victims but also to society at large. Both women and men can be affected, but women and children remain the most vulnerable groups. Persons with disabilities, the elderly, and internally displaced persons also face heightened risks. Timely assistance can save lives and minimize long-term consequences.
During the session, the speakers presented effective cooperation mechanisms between government bodies and non-governmental organizations in providing aid and protection to victims. These mechanisms were illustrated with real-life case examples.
A comprehensive approach to preventing and combating domestic and gender-based violence requires more than timely intervention and holding perpetrators accountable. It calls for the coordinated actions of all authorized actors to ensure the protection and restoration of victims’ rights.
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