Kyiv, Geneva, November 21, 2024 – The adoption of the Law on Legal and Social Protection of the Rights of Victims of Sexual Violence Related to the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, and Urgent Interim Reparations (No. 10132)by the Ukrainian parliament recognises survivors of conflict-related sexual violence as victims and ensures the creation of a concrete mechanism to provide them with prompt reparations.
Introduced by MP Maryna Bardina and developed in collaboration with the Global Survivors Fund (GSF), government representatives, civil society organisations, international partners and most importantly with survivors, the ‘Bardina Law’ is survivor-centric and offers access to urgent interim reparations such as psychological support, medical care, and compensation. The law is expected to come into effect in the first half of 2025, making Ukraine the first country to implement urgent reparations for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence during an ongoing war.
“We welcome the adoption of the law”, said Fedir Dunebabin, GSF’s country representative in Ukraine. “This long-awaited piece of legislation reflects the survivors’ demand for State recognition of the crimes they suffered. It sends the message that victims of conflict-related sexual violence have a right to reparation аnd that they are not alone.”
The project on Urgent Interim Reparations for conflict-related sexual violence survivors, initiated in 2023 by GSF in partnership with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine and the Government Commissioner on Gender Equality Policy, has been instrumental in shaping key provisions of the Law. By sharing lessons learned and showing the feasibility of providing urgent, survivor-centred interim reparations while avoiding re-traumatisation, the project has helped expedite the adoption of this landmark legislation.
The registration of victims of sexual violence can be done while incorporating their voices in project decisions. It also demonstrated how interim reparations can effectively acknowledge the harm suffered by survivors and provide a bridge towards comprehensive state-led reparation programmes.
This parliamentary decision will enable the pilot project to become official policy.
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For media inquiries, please contact: Shammond@globalsurvivorsfund.org, +41 762949485.
About the Global Survivors Fund (GSF): GSF works with survivors, local partners, technical experts, and government stakeholders to enhance access to reparations for and with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. Our approach, that puts co-creation at the centre, aims to return agency and autonomy to those that have been stripped of it and ensures that actions are relevant, impactful, and driven by the aspirations of survivors. GSF has been present in Ukraine since 2020 and our work is made possible thanks to the governments of France and Belgium. https://www.globalsurvivorsfund.org/
About the law: the law on the Status of Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and Urgent Interim Reparation represents a collaborative effort by Ukrainian lawmakers, civil society, and international organisations. It builds upon the principles of survivor-centred justice and seeks to address the urgent needs of survivors while creating a foundation for long-term reparation strategies.