Kyiv, 28 Decmber 2023 – With the onset of the full-scale war, the Ukrainian justice system is confronting new challenges related to investigating conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and assisting survivors and victims of these crimes. Investigators and prosecutors assigned to CRSV cases require specific skills and in-depth knowledge of both national and international standards.

The Association of Women Lawyer of Ukraine, "JurFem," with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and the Government of Japan, designed and conducted a series of training events for justice professionals, which involved top-notch national and international experts specializing in CRSV investigations. The training sessions were designed to enhance the capacities of the justice system to identify, document, and investigate CRSV cases, while providing assistance to survivors and witnesses of such crimes.

"The collaboration between UNDP, JurFem, and the Government of Japan reflects a commitment to empowering justice professionals in Ukraine. By enhancing capacities for CRSV investigations, we contribute to building a stronger foundation for justice and support for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence," said Svitlana Kolyshko, UNDP Ukraine Human Rights and Access to Justice Project Manager.

According to trainer Khrystyna Kit, the head of JurFem, these educational events provide participants with an opportunity to broaden their understanding of international standards and approaches to CRSV investigations.

“Conflict-related sexual violence is an international crime that requires different investigative approaches than the general approach. Prosecutors and investigators who are already, or will be, investigating such crimes should possess not only knowledge about the specifics of evidence in such cases and algorithms for ensuring the confidentiality of survivors, but also the skills to conduct investigative interviews with survivor-oriented approaches," said Khrystyna Kit. "This is why the Office of the Prosecutor General, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the National Police initiated training for investigators and prosecutors working with this type of crimes," she added.

The training events engaged over 100 justice professionals, building a network of highly qualified professionals tasked with investigating CRSV.

This series of training events is part of a comprehensive capacity-building effort by UNDP and the Government of Japan, aimed at enhancing the capacities of duty bearers and justice professionals aiding individuals affected by the war, including survivors and witnesses of CRSV.

Earlier, from September to November 2023, JurFem, supported by UNDP Ukraine and the Government of Japan, conducted a series of intersectoral training events on the identification and coordination of investigations of war crimes, including CRSV. These events involved more than 300 representatives from Free Legal Aid, the Ombudsperson’s Office, national police, social workers, and prosecutors, expanding outreach to wider groups of national stakeholders.

Background information

The training events have been organized as part of the "Promotion of Human Security in Ukraine Through Responding to the Multidimensional Crisis Caused by the War" project implemented by UNDP and financed by the Government of Japan.

Media enquiries: Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org