Ukraine will compensate women victims of sexual abuse by Russians

The accusation is almost two years old. “When you hear women testifying about Russian soldiers equipped with Viagra, it is clearly a military strategy”, denounced, in October 2022, the United Nations special representative for sexual violence in conflicts, Pamila Patten, in an interview with France Press agency.

Some of the victims have suffered from the trauma of sexual abuse and torture since at least 2014, the date of Russian entry into the now occupied territories of Lugansk and Donetsk. The practice continued with the “special operation” launched by Vladimir Putin in February 2022. According to the Global Survivors Fund, created in 2019 by Nobel laureates Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad, there will be thousands of Ukrainian women sexually abused by Russians in the last 10 years .

Around 500 women have been confirmed as victims of Russian sexual abuse and will be compensated by Ukraine, with financial, medical and psychological help. “Reparations for victims of serious human rights violations, including victims of conflict-related sexual violence, are not just economic support. It is an important step towards the restoration of justice”, told “The Guardian” the Ukrainian first lady, Olena Zelenska, during an international conference held in Kiev in March.

“Rehabilitation and compensation are an element of reparation, but what survivors consider very important is recognition,” says Esther Dingemans, director of the Global Survivors Fund (GSF), which manages the Ukrainian compensation project. , with funds from donor governments. It will be the first time that survivors are compensated during an active conflict, she says.

“The compensation scheme offers confirmation that what happened to them is officially recognized. This also sends a message to the wider community,” argues Dingemans. A perspective embraced by one of the admitted and confirmed victims of Russian abuse, Lyudmila Huseynova. “Reparations can help, but they must include holistic support for physical and mental health. Women need access to a psychologist – not just for a few sessions, but for as long as they need. The trauma of sexual violence does not go away,” she said.