As part of the project “Let’s stand together. Improvement of the support system for victims of war-related sexual violence” with the financial support of the European Union in Ukraine, a series of trainings took place in the Sumy region, which is included in the list of pilot regions. In the Sumy region, trainings “Sexual violence related to the conflict (SNPK): provision of comprehensive assistance to the victims” took place during October – November in the city of Sumy and the city of Okhtyrka in face-to-face format. The presentation of the project in the city of Sumy took place on July 19, 2023, with the participation of the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy of Ukraine, Kateryna Levchenko.
Four cross-sectoral groups of 20-22 participants each were formed to conduct the trainings. Specialists of the Sumy health care department, general practitioners, psychologists, gynecologists, regional level law enforcement agencies, public organizations, specialists of the social protection department of Sumy and Okhtyrka, and other subjects of assistance to the affected persons joined the participation.
The training is aimed at:
– providing participants with knowledge about SNPK, its forms, learning to identify and qualify them in accordance with international standards and national legislation
– training to use the recommendations of the International Protocol in the preparation of SNPK documentation
– providing participants with knowledge about the identification of persons affected by conflict-related sexual violence
– formation of the participants’ understanding of the need to pay special attention to the aspects of communication with a person affected by SNPK, to provide knowledge about the elements of sensitive, non-traumatic communication with the affected person.
The training was conducted by Svitlana Piven, associate professor of the Department of Public Health, who was trained in conflict-related sexual violence and is a certified trainer in this area.
