Representatives of NGO SEMA Ukraine took part in the conference "Restoring the Rights of Victims of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: An Element of Peace and Global Security".
04 березня 2024
4.03.2024 The conference "Restoring the Rights of Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: An Element of Peace and Global Security" has started in Kyiv. The event is dedicated to the creation of a legal mechanism for reparations to victims of sexual violence during armed conflicts. "Restoring the rights of victims of conflict-related sexual violence: an element of peace and global security". The conference is organised by the Office of the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and the Office of the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy Kateryna Levchenko with the support of the UK Government and in partnership with the Ukrainian Women's Lawyers Association "YurFem" and the Ukrainian Women's Fund. The conference was attended by representatives of government agencies, interdepartmental commissions and embassies, international organisations, Ukrainian NGOs, and lawyers.
SEMA Ukraine was represented by Liudmyla Huseinova, Alisa Kovalenko, Olena Lazareva, Yuliia Dvornichenko and the Head of the organisation Iryna Dovhan (online).
SEMA Ukraine was represented by Liudmyla Huseinova, Alisa Kovalenko, Olena Lazareva, Yuliia Dvornichenko and the Head of the organisation Iryna Dovhan (online).


The event was moderated by Liudmyla Huseinova, human rights activist, citizen journalist, communications director at SEMA Ukraine, and Larysa Denysenko, human rights activist, board member and co-founder of the Association of Women Lawyers of Ukraine " YurFem", writer and media personality.

The conference was opened by the First Lady of Ukraine Оlena Zelenska, who stressed that victims of sexual violence during the war cannot wait for "classic" reparations when the war ends or when Russia agrees to pay compensation - they need to act immediately. "Reparations to victims of gross human rights violations, including victims of conflict-related sexual violence, are not only about economic support. It is an important step towards restoring justice. And this justice is needed not only in Ukraine. Justice for Ukrainian victims of violence is now a mirror for the world itself," Olena Zelenska said. The Duchess of Edinburgh, a representative of the Royal Family of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, also delivered a video message: "This conference is an opportunity to ensure that survivors are not forgotten, to draw attention to their bravery and to the need for justice. We must use measures such as effective prosecutions at the national and, if necessary, international level, as well as sanctions as a deterrent to prevent the CRSV." As part of the event, Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna presented Ukraine's first project on urgent interim reparations for victims of wartime sexual violence. The initiative is the first such case in the history of reparations, when the state, together with civil society and NGOs, develops steps to pay urgent interim reparations during the war. Among the participants of the conference were: Pramila Patten, UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict; Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, UK Prime Minister's Special Representative for the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict; Stella Ronner Grubic, EU Ambassador for Gender Equality and Diversity; Andriy Kostin, Prosecutor General of Ukraine; Denise Brown, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine; Irene Fallin, NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security; Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights; Kateryna Pavlichenko, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and others.
