Violence is one of the most widespread violations of human rights in the world.
It is most often experienced by women and girls.
Statistics are difficult to calculate in Ukraine, as domestic violence often remains hidden.
However, thanks to information work in society, this crime was reported twice as often last year as in 2020.
Such calculations were made public by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
This year, the number of complaints about domestic violence during power outages increased.
Such data was provided by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Denys Monastyrskyi.
The annual
international campaign "16 days of activism against gender-based violence"
is ongoing .
What are the signs of violence, where to seek professional help and how to help those who have experienced violence - on the air of "Breakfast with 1+1", the Roma human rights defender and project coordinator of the Roma Women's Foundation "Chirikli" Julian Kondur told the hosts Neli Shovkoplyas and Yehor Gordeev.
Julian Kondur
Julian, what is gender-based violence?
By what signs can it be recognized?
In fact, gender-based violence is about gender and a certain social role.
Violence can be in different forms: physical, socio-economic, psychological in relation to a certain gender group.
Women naturally suffer disproportionately more from gender-based violence.
Men also face this, but in slightly different forms and in other areas.
Let's focus on the most common form - physical violence.
Are there any markers?
How to recognize it?
If we talk about the family, it is depression when one of the spouses - woman or man - feels that they are limited, that their rights or point of view are not taken into account, that they have less and less free time, and routine work becomes a kind of compulsion.
Julian, people who have survived abuse often shut themselves down and keep their experiences inside.
How to deal with pain in this case?
Very often, the victims close in on themselves and have no desire to communicate.
An important point is trust.
This can be a close person: a girlfriend or a friend.
It is important not to put pressure on a person, but to give him the opportunity to speak.
If the person does not tell all the details, do not press.
The moment will come when she herself will be able to share it.
The most important thing is to have a trusting relationship with the victim.
Where can I report incidents of violence and get professional advice?
I would recommend contacting the police.
Today, the police are more responsive to domestic violence, separate departments have been created, and a lot of public effort has been directed at making the police do a better job.
These can also be specialized public organizations, for example, the "La Strada" organization, which has been active in Ukraine for a long time and is engaged in combating domestic violence.
Victims of violence usually remain silent about what happens to them, so many cases remain undocumented.
Most of the women interviewed on the street believe that due to the introduction of martial law and the war in Ukraine, the number of cases of gender-based violence has increased significantly.
This is also confirmed by Inouye Etsuko, the international program manager for the prevention of sexual exploitation and exposure, IOM gender coordinator in Ukraine.
Etsuko, who is currently at high risk for gender-based violence?
Most of all, of course, women and girls.
Travelers who are forced to move through unfamiliar places are also at risk.
Also, those who have survived domestic violence need special protection because they are extremely vulnerable.
Etsuko, how did the full-scale invasion affect the gender-based violence situation after it started?
The first thing I want to say is that gender-based violence manifests itself the most in times of crisis.
This is exactly what happened in Ukraine.
And now, when families, communities, all kinds of social ties are either strained or weakened, the greatest risk of gender-based violence arises.
Especially when attacks continue, unpleasant weather and a new wave of forced displacement - then people become more vulnerable to violence.
Patriarchal attitudes are often said to justify and even exacerbate discrimination and violence against women and girls.
Does your work experience confirm or deny this?
I must say that there are traditional values and patriarchal customs that remain stable not only in Ukraine.
Such phenomena are also common in Japan, but in Ukraine, the war continues, and women are exposed to the worsening of inequalities that prevailed even before the war, but now they are getting worse.
Sexual, physical and psychological violence is manifested not only in physical forms.
It is about moral pressure, humiliation and manipulation.
Therefore, at the first signs of abuse, you should seek help, and if you witness such a crime, do not stay away - offer help or report to the appropriate authorities.
Domestic violence support and prevention hotlines:
0 800 211 444 - IOM's free emotional support hotline,
116 123 - national domestic violence prevention hotline
15-47 - a 24-hour hotline for victims of domestic violence.
#МОМ_16 days of Activism Against Violence
Read also:
How to talk to a child about the war: practical advice for parents
How to properly support a person during war
How to support a person who feels a loss