Ukraine: New law recognizes and supports Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
Thursday, December 19, 2024 9:55 AM

Ukraine’s Parliament has passed a bill formally recognizing conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in national law, offering survivors and their families interim reparations along with access to essential legal, social, and medical support. The legislation, covering acts committed since February 20, 2014, seeks to create a more comprehensive and sustainable framework for assisting survivors. While the bill has been praised by Ukrainian organizations, they stress the importance of addressing systemic issues, including retraumatization during investigations and limited access to legal aid, through more trauma-informed policies. In the meantime, programs like the Global Survivors Fund continue to provide temporary financial support, offering key insights for developing a national reparations system.
 
Compiled from: Kseniya Kvitka, "Ukraine Parliament Adopts Bill on Legal Status of CRSV Survivors," Human Rights Watch, Dec. 12, 2024.