Preventing and Countering Violence

The violence prevention and counteraction system covers the actions including detection, prevention of and response to all the types of violence, including domestic, gender-based violence and children abuse as well as other aggressive actions.

Counteraction to violence is one of the key aspects of work of the Ministry of Social Policy. The Ministry’s projects are aimed at creating the safe environment for all the citizens where everyone has the right to violence-free life.

Domestic violence is a major social problem that affects many families and physical, psychological and emotional health of victims. This process has different forms and can take place in the home environment so prevention and response require a holistic approach.

All family members can suffer from violence, but most vulnerable ones are children, the elderly, persons with disabilities as well as women who are often vulnerable due to a threat of physical impact and economic dependence on their partners..

Information on Counteraction to Violence in Ukraine

The MSP enhances assistance to victims of this process.

Ukraine has specialised services that offer social and psychological assistance to victims. They can be shelters, day centres, crisis rooms, counselling services etc. Special mobile teams also take part in provision of such assistance.

Social Services

Victims of domestic and gender-based violence can rely upon the following services:

• awareness raising
• primary legal aid
• consultation
• psychological assistance
• representation of interests
• shelter
• social and psychological rehabilitation
• intermediation (except for the offender)
• social support
• social adaptation
• social prevention
• resilience service
• victim programme

General and specialised services to support the victims of domestic and gender-based violence:

• social service centres for families, children and the youth;
• shelters for children;
• social and psychological rehabilitation centres for children;
• social and rehabilitation centre (child centres);
• social and psychological assistance centres;
• territorial social service centres;
• other facilities, institutions and organizations that provide social services to victims.

The specialised victim support services include:

• victim shelters,
• medical and social victim rehabilitation centres,
• call centres on prevention of and counteraction to domestic violence, gender-based violence and child abuse,
• mobile teams for social and psychological assistance to affected persons and victims of gender-based violence,
• establishments and institutions designated only for affected persons and victims of gender-based violence.

Tasks of the Ministry in Prevention of Violence

The Ministry of Social Policy plays the role of the designated central executive authority for prevention of and counteraction to domestic violence, gender-based violence and prevention of child abuse.

Useful Contacts

• Governmental Contact Centre for Victims of Domestic Violence – 15-47;
• Hotline of the National Police of Ukraine – 0-800-500-202;
• Ukrainian Contact Centre of the Free Legal Aid System– 0-800-213-103;
• National hotline on prevention of domestic violence, trafficking in human beings and gender-based discrimination – 0-800-500-335 or 116-123 (from mobile)