Project Title: Integrated GBV capacity strengthening across state institutions in Ukraine
Implementation Period: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029
Project Location: Zhytomyr, Volyn Oblast (Lutsk), Poltava Oblast (Kremenchuk), Dnipropetrovsk Oblast (Kryvyi Rih), Kyiv Oblast (Bila Tserkva), and Kyiv.
Project Donor: Solidaritätsdienst International e.V.
According to official statistics, the National Police of Ukraine receives more than 100,000 reports of domestic violence each year. However, not all women in at-risk groups trust the police enough to seek help.
The main factors contributing to this problem are:
A fragmented first-response system;
A lack of standardized response protocols;
A lack of trauma-informed communication skills among police officers;
A lack of systematic prevention programs in educational institutions and outreach efforts targeting young men.
Project Objective
To strengthen the system for preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV) in Ukraine by:
Strengthening the professional capacity of National Police personnel.
Developing institutional response mechanisms in educational institutions.
Promoting models of nonviolent behavior, gender equality, and a responsible approach to interpersonal relationships among young men.
Target Audience
The direct target group consists of four interrelated subgroups that correspond to the project’s objectives and activities: emergency service personnel; police officers; educators; and young men enrolled in educational and training institutions.
Educational institutions selected for project implementation:
State Center for Vocational Education “Lutsk Higher Vocational School” (Lutsk, Volyn Oblast)
Ivan Franko State University of Zhytomyr (Zhytomyr, Zhytomyr Oblast)
National Agrarian University, Bila Tserkva (Bila Tserkva, Kyiv Oblast)
“Kremenchuk Academy of Humanities and Technology” (Kremenchuk, Poltava Oblast)
Kyiv Police Academy (Kyiv)
Kryvyi Rih Police Academy (Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast)
Areas of Focus and Key Activities
Area 1. Strengthening the Capacity of Law Enforcement Agencies
Development of a standardized e-course (toolkit) on first response, consisting of 4 modules (asynchronous format), with subsequent integration into the National Police’s e-learning system. Potential reach: up to 50,000 police officers.
Conducting 64 in-person training sessions over 3 years for patrol officers, precinct officers, mobile crisis response teams, and human rights specialists/officials (a total of approximately 1,300 participants).
Area 2. Institutionalization and Work with University Students
Development of a training course on gender-sensitive skills for young men for implementation at 4 civilian universities and 2 police academies.
Conducting a 5-day Training of Trainers (ToT) for 18 facilitators and instructors.
Piloting the developed course (4 modules of 90 minutes each) for the first group of 180 participants.
Refining and scaling up the course for a new cohort (180 participants), providing mentoring support, and preparing a final knowledge document.
Area 3. Public Awareness
Organizing and conducting an information and awareness campaign in public spaces and educational institutions.
The project “Integrated GBV capacity strengthening across state institutions in Ukraine” is implemented by the NGO Girls in cooperation with SODI and with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
