In the Netherlands, Ukrainian women who suffered as a result of Russian aggression in 2014 called on the world to help Ukraine and prevent new victims.
In the Netherlands, Ukrainian women who suffered as a result of Russian aggression in 2014,
called on the world to help Ukraine and to prevent new victims.
"Now we cannot fully grasp the scale of this tragedy, because many territories are still under the control of Russia, but in the territories that the Ukrainian army is deliberating, the situation is really terrible there. Russia's aggression began in 2014. I witnessed this all. I saw what happened in Donbas with those who were not happy about the arrival of the russians in these territories and how they were destroyed, in what terrible ways. I was released from captivity by European journalists. I stayed in captivity for five days, but not many pro-Ukrainian women and men had the good fortune to be released. And these victims remained in the occupied territory of Donbas," Ukrainian activist, SEMA-Ukraine coordinator Iryna Dovhan told reporters in The Hague.
She noted that no international human rights organizations could enter this territory for eight years. The world simply does not know about everything that has been done there since 2014. And of those who managed to survive, not all of them talk about what they experienced.
Dovhan also emphasized that after the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine, the number of new victims has increased significantly, and called on the world to help stop the aggressor as soon as possible.
"The most important thing for us is to save women in Ukraine. And the sooner Ukraine can win, the fewer victims there will be. And this is our main goal. We know how it is, and I would very much like to save women who have not yet experienced these horrors, so that there are no occupied territories. We would like to appeal to the whole world not to leave us in the middle of this terrible and difficult road. And to help end the war, for Ukraine to return to its borders, so that women can return home with their children. We ask the world to stay with us and help us,” she said.
According to the activist, a meeting of women who suffered in military conflict zones was held in the Netherlands for three days. According to her, organizations such as SEMA and the Dr. Mukwege Foundation help women who have experienced violence during the war to learn how to live and provide psychological and medical assistance.
She also said that SEMA Ukraine is a network that unites about 20 women who have suffered from sexual and gender-based violence in the east of Ukraine.
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During the event in The Hague, victims of violence in other conflicts, including in Syria, Uganda and Rwanda, also shared their experiences and what they’ve been through.
"We help to open up. Women also need qualified medical and psychological help. We were in Ukraine. We conducted trainings so that the victims could overcome their fear because many people hide their experiences even from their relatives. We work, in particular, with law enforcement officers, and we explain how to properly speak to victims. Also with doctors, because it is very important that at all stages of providing medical care, a psychologist is next to the victims, so that everything takes place in one center, and you don't have to tell your story every time in different medical institutions," said Katrien Coppens, executive director of the Mukwege Foundation.
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She also emphasized that it is extremely important for the victims to demand that the perpetrators be brought to justice. She emphasized that sexual violence as a weapon of war is considered a war crime.
SEMA currently represents victims from over 20 countries in Africa, Asia, South America, the Middle East, and Europe. Working together, these survivors are bringing global attention to the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and calling for the changes needed to end violence and achieve justice.
We will remind you that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine, the National Police of Ukraine has received about half a hundred statements about sexual crimes committed by the Russian invaders.
As Ukrinform reported, on February 24, Russia announced the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops shell and destroy key infrastructure facilities, carry out massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and towns using artillery, rocket launchers and ballistic missiles.
Photo: Iryna Drabok
