A round table has been held in Mariupol, where the provision of assistance to women affected by gender-based violence have been discussed. Mariupol City Council is actively involved in the implementation of the project ‘An integrated approach to solving the problem of violence against women and girls in Ukraine’.
It was implemented with the support of the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine - UNFPA Ukraine, the Ukrainian Public Health Foundation, the Mariupol City Council, in particular the Mariupol Center for Social Services and the Donbas Women’s Council and the police.
Deputy Mayor Ksenia Sukhova spoke about the results of work in the direction of counteraction and prevention of domestic violence in Mariupol as well as reported on the future direction of work in 2019.
Thus, in Mariupol there is a mobile team of social and psychological assistance for victims of domestic violence. The situation is clarified on the spot and psychological assistance is provided. The team, if necessary, can help a woman get to a safe place - Shelter. In the center a woman can be with children from several days to several months. They are provided with psychological and legal assistance.
“Council of Women of the Donetsk Region” NGO has developed mini-leaflets with information on how to get help. Their size is small enough, having received such a leaflet, the child or woman can hide it, and choose the time to call on these phones. Leaflets-tips for medics, police officers and educational institutions were printed separately. They contain the necessary phone numbers, addresses and details on the assistance of the victim of domestic violence.
Ksenia Sukhova noted that the problem of gender-based violence, including domestic violence, is quite relevant. But today Mariupol is one step ahead of many other cities.
‘The credibility of social workers and the police is very important. When asking for help, women see and feel real help - this is the main thing. Domestic violence is a shameful phenomenon that must be eradicated. If there is peace and respect in our families, internally people will be full of kindness and mutual assistance, ‘ Ksenia Sukhova said.
Among the speakers of the round table there was Tatyana Lomakina, Chairwoman of “Council of Women of the Donetsk Region” Public Organization, representative of the British Embassy in Ukraine, Rachel Williams, Program Manager of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Lyudmila Shevtsova, Deputy Head of Mariupol Central Department of the Police of the Donetsk region, Vladimir Zhuravlev and expert on gender-based violence of “Council of Women of Donetsk” NGO, Ulyana Tokareva.
During the event, methods of support and assistance to victims were discussed. They shared the results of training programs for professional groups. We paid attention to the mechanisms of work with the aggressor aimed at correcting it.
