Ukraine to pay urgent reparations to victims of Russian wartime sexual violence

Ukraine initiated a pilot project to provide urgent interim reparations to victims of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) during the ongoing war with Russia. Since 2014, Russia has weaponized internationally recognized crimes, such as sexual violence, in its aggression against Ukraine. The severity and frequency of Russia’s sexual violence escalated significantly with the full-scale invasion in 2022. The project aims to identify victims of sexual violence and provide them with one-time interim compensation by the end of October 2024. As part of the pilot, 500 people will receive this compensation.  Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna presented this project at the international conference “Restoring the Rights of Victims of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: An Element of Peace and Global Security” held in Kyiv in March 2024. It was implemented in cooperation with the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy and the Global Survivors Fund. First Lady Olena Zelenska, who attended the conference, emphasized the importance of immediate action, stating that victims cannot wait for “classic” reparations after the war ends or when Russia agrees to pay compensation. “It is an important step towards restoring justice. And this justice is needed not only in Ukraine. Justice for Ukrainian victims of violence is now a mirror...