Another meeting of a group of women who suffered sexual violence during the war took place on 15 - 16 January in the Carpathians. This time, the women-survivors decided to formalize their public activism and to found the SEMA Ukraine organization. Women participated offline as well as online (particularly, those who evacuated abroad during the hostilities). 

At the constituent meeting, activists elected the head of the organization (Iryna Dovhan) and six members of the Board. Shortly, SEMA Ukraine plans to submit official documents for registration. Legal support in this process is provided by the specialists of the EUCCI. 

"For three long years, we’ve been helping this women's group to form a community. And we started 8 years ago by searching for victims and documenting cases of sexual violence. After that, women got to know each other, there were trainings and study trips, the gradual formation of a group of like-minded people... I am glad that now that they are in relations with the authorities and in front of the public, women victims of sexual violence will be represented by representatives of their own community, united in NGO", - says Volodymyr Shcherbachenko, head of the East Ukrainian Center for Public Initiatives.

Having decided on the directions in which SEMA Ukraine will develop, the participants took part in the training. The lawyer of the EUCCI introduced the listeners to innovations in Ukrainian legislation that will allow women who survived captivity to receive additional monetary payments from the state. 

A significant part of the second day of the meeting was devoted to the participation of members of SEMA Ukraine in the project "Public Assessment of the Availability and quality of Medical Services for persons affected by sexual violence during the war." With the help of human rights defenders from the EUCCI, representatives of SEMA will assess the quality of services declared in public hospitals for victims of SGBV.

Traditionally, in addition to meetings and serious discussions, the participants of the outbound meeting had the opportunity to enjoy the Carpathian landscapes and celebrate the founding of the organization.

The event was held with the financial support of Dr Mukwege Foundation. 

.