First Lady Olena Zelenska participated in an opening meeting, during which the priorities of this year's Ukrainian chairmanship of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI) were presented.
The event was attended by Kateryna Levchenko, Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy, Mariana Betsa, Deputy Foreign Minister, as well as representatives of the Alliance members, including international organizations and embassies of the member countries (the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, France, Colombia, Spain, Switzerland, etc.).
The President's wife emphasized that Ukraine's leadership is crucial in shaping the global responsibility for preventing sexual violence in armed conflict. 648 Ukrainian men and women have applied for interim reparations as part of a pilot project for survivors of sexual violence perpetrated by Russian occupiers. 432 people have already received payments.
“It's not about money – it's about comprehensive support for victims, compassion, destigmatization, and the opportunity to start a new life. I believe that with such an approach, more people will overcome their fear, find the courage to seek help, and eventually testify,” she said.
The First Lady expressed her hope that Ukraine's chairmanship of the Alliance will help attract and pool the best international practices and support to help affected Ukrainians.
Among the main priorities for our country in the Alliance this year are the analysis of foundational documents and their improvement, the strengthening of commitments to create comprehensive reparations programs for victims, and the study of best practices among member states to develop a practical guide of effective measures for preventing, responding to incidents of violence, and supporting victims.
“However, our main goal (and that of our partners) is to ensure that the perpetrators of such crimes are fairly punished and internationally condemned. After all, justice is what the victims need most of all,” Olena Zelenska noted.
The event was organized by the NGO UAExperts at the initiative of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Justice of Ukraine, Olha Stefanishyna, in cooperation with the Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy and with the support of the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine.
Reference. In November 2022, the United Kingdom announced the creation of the International Alliance, and states signed a political declaration to improve coordination, share experiences and ensure justice for survivors of sexual violence in conflict.
In March 2023, the Alliance officially began its activities, with Ukraine as co-chair.
This year, our country assumed the chairmanship for the first time, reaffirming its commitment to fighting for human rights and justice despite the ongoing full-scale war.
As of January 2025, the Alliance comprises 26 states and other members.