Ukraine launches information wave "Supporting You" for the International Day for the Elimination of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
The initiative is designed to help victims of SNPK learn more about available support services, find the help they need, and receive information about opportunities to protect their rights and restore justice.
On June 19, Ukraine, together with the international community, marks the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict (ICEV). The day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2015 to support survivors, honor their resilience, draw attention to the problem of sexual violence in armed conflict, and strengthen international efforts to prevent such crimes.
Conflict-related sexual violence is a gross violation of human rights and international humanitarian law. Depending on the circumstances, such acts may qualify as war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.
In 2026, the UN for the first time included the armed forces and security structures of the Russian Federation in the list of parties reasonably suspected of committing systematic forms of sexual violence related to the conflict (the so-called “list of shame”). This decision is reflected in the annual report on the SNPK, which is prepared by the UN Secretary-General for the UN Security Council. The inclusion of the Russian Federation in the “list of shame” was an important international recognition of the systemic nature of these crimes in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine and strengthened the basis for further measures to ensure accountability and protect the rights of victims.
On the occasion of the International Day against SNPK, a national information wave is launched in Ukraine "Support nearby", initiated by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, and networks of victims.
The aim of the initiative is to raise awareness of available support services for victims of SNPK, increase the visibility of existing support mechanisms, and ensure access to practical information on obtaining medical, psychological, social, and legal assistance.
The “Support Nearby” campaign should become a joint information wave in support of people who have suffered from conflict-related sexual violence. We call on state bodies, communities, international and civil society organizations, and networks of survivors to join the campaign, talk about their own support services and disseminate practical information that can help people get the services they need. By working together, we can make help more visible, accessible, and understandable for everyone who needs it.”, — emphasized the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy Kateryna Levchenko.
In Ukraine, support for victims of SNPK is one of the priority areas of state policy. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, as of February 24, 2022, at least 701 people have been victims of SNPK committed by representatives of the Russian Federation. According to the Prosecutor General's Office, as of May 29, 2026, 398 facts of SNPK were recorded in Ukraine.
If you If you are a victim of domestic violence or gender discrimination, please contact the National Hotline for Prevention of Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking and Gender Discrimination for advice and assistance.
By phone number: 116 123 or 0 800 500 335
Write to us in messengers:
The material was prepared as part of the information wave "Support Nearby", initiated by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine together with the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy and networks of victims ("Coalition of the Free", "Come on, Sisters!", "SEMA Ukraine", "November 11th" Foundation, "Alumni").
Українська