How often in 2024 did Ukrainians report domestic violence: data from the commissioner
Victims of violence can get free help and protection
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During the first half of 2024, authorized bodies received more than 97,000 appeals from Ukrainians reporting cases of domestic violence.
About this reported Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets.
According to him, victims of domestic violence often do not dare speak openly about the problem, because they are afraid of the offender’s reaction and public condemnation.
“Domestic violence is a silent problem that needs to be shouted about. [Воно] has different manifestations and can affect everyone”– noted the ombudsman.
Domestic violence can take many forms, including:
- physical – includes slapping, kicking, pushing, biting, as well as illegal deprivation of liberty, beating, failure to provide assistance, causing death, etc.;
- psychological – involves verbal insults, threats or humiliation, as well as harassment, intimidation and other actions aimed at limiting a person’s free will or controlling his reproductive sphere;
- sexy – any acts of a sexual nature, which the offender commits against an adult without his consent or in the presence of a minor or against a child regardless of her wishes;
- economic – includes intentional deprivation of housing, food, clothing, other property, funds or documents or leaving without care or prohibition to work/force to work, etc.
Who is considered a victim of domestic violence?
As the commissioner explains, in order to be recognized as a victim, it is not necessary for a person to live together with the offender who resorts to violence.
This category also includes spouses, ex-spouses, people who have a child together, fiancés, adopted children and parents and other family and household members.
In addition, victims of domestic violence are children who witnessed it.
What rights do victims of domestic violence have?
Ukrainians who have suffered from cases of domestic violence can receive free assistance and protection against repeated incidents, in particular:
- obtain protection to prevent repeated cases of domestic violence;
- contact the bodies and persons who provide protection and combat domestic violence;
- get information about your rights, social services and assistance;
- free social services, medical, psychological and legal assistance;
- respect for honor and dignity, attentive and humane treatment;
- confidentiality of information of a personal nature;
- selection of a specialist by gender, if possible;
- timely receive information about the court’s decision on law enforcement agencies.
Where can I find protection against domestic violence?
Victims can report domestic violence and count on help not only from the National Police of Ukraine, but also from:
- Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine;
- National Social Service of Ukraine;
- local state administrations;
- village, settlement, city, district administrations and their executive bodies;
- services for children;
- education management bodies, educational institutions;
- health care authorities;
- centers for providing free legal assistance;
- courts;
- prosecutor’s office;
- authorized bodies on probation.
Cases of inadequate assistance or protection against domestic violence can also be reported to the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights at the address St. Instytutska, 21/8, Kyiv, 01008.
The appeal can be sent by e-mail [email protected] or by hotline number 0800501720.
We will remind you that it was created in Ukraine dashborsh hotlines that can be used to contact centers for providing assistance to victims of domestic violence.
