Ukraine is going through one of the most difficult periods in its history due to the war with Russia that has been going on since 2014 and the large-scale invasion in 2022. This has significantly increased the risks of various forms of violence for women, especially those in the war zones or those who were displaced. Economic instability exacerbates their vulnerability to domestic violence, and limited access to necessary services and support complicates the situation. In addition, the war has led to a redefinition of gender roles and demonstrated the need for society to adapt to new realities. However, there is a serious problem with the lack of up-to-date data on gender-based violence (GBV), which makes it difficult to respond effectively and provide support to victims.
There is also scant data on the level of awareness and prevalence of various forms of GBV among adults and adolescents in Ukraine. Therefore, observations of the social changes caused by the war emphasize the need for a national study on gender-based violence among women, men, girls and boys. In February-May 2024, World Vision and the NGO “Girls” jointly conducted a nationwide study of the understanding and prevalence of various forms of GBV and the effectiveness of the response.
