WUNRN

http://www.wunrn.com

 

Ukraine - Women Civilians - Violence & Conflict - Shattered Homes, Dreams, Lives

 

http://static01.nyt.com/images/2014/08/10/world/europe/20140811-ukraine-slide-9YHO/20140811-ukraine-slide-9YHO-slide.jpg

 

____________________________________________________________

 

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

 

Report on the Human Rights Situation in Ukraine - 1 December 2014 to 15 February 2015

 

Direct Link to Full 28-Page Report:

http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/9thOHCHRreportUkraine.pdf

 

C. Women’s Rights and Gender Issues

 

61. With the prolongation of the conflict and displacement, women are increasingly vulnerable to various human rights violations and abuses both in Government and armed group controlled areas. The economic consequences of the conflict also acutely affect women.

Those trapped in areas of fighting are at a heightened threat of sexual violence. Information from NGOs and IDPs that young women and men are being taken off buses leaving the conflict zone require further investigation. The HRMU is concerned that cases of violence against women may go unreported. The NGO La Strada, which operates a national hotline, reported only few calls related to sexual violence. Yet cases continue to emerge: one IDP woman reported sexual violence against her by members of the armed groups and members of an unidentified Ukrainian battalion, and remains severely traumatized.

 

62. Women may be at increased risk of domestic violence, as servicemen return from the conflict area without receiving proper social and psychological services. La Strada registered an increase in calls relating to domestic violence over the reporting period (72.2 per cent of total calls). It reported that incidents of psychological violence are increasing in families of IDPs, as well as within those remaining in the conflict area.

 

63. Women, including those internally displaced, may be at heightened risk of being exposed to trafficking, sexual violence and resorting to prostitution as a means of survival. In the reporting period, the HRMU became aware of cases of trafficking involving IDPs. On 19 January a man in Lviv was arrested on suspicion of allegedly recruiting four women, one Lviv resident and three IDPs, for sex work in Israel. One of the IDPs stated that she was desperate for any income, as it was impossible to find employment and she had to provide for her two children. The case highlights the need for all actors working with IDPs to be alert to the threatof trafficking facing displaced women. The International Organization for Migration was providing services for two IDP women from Luhansk region who were allegedly in the process of being trafficked to Turkey for sex work.

 

64. Some incidents of discrimination continued against the LGBTI community, especially in the territories under the control of the armed groups. On 19 December, the HRMU succeeded in evacuating a transgender man from the areas controlled by armed groups who was in fear of persecution and isolated at home without access to either food or medicine. As a transgender man, he was believed to be at risk of detention and violence if attempting to leave the area himself, as his identification documents did not reflect his gender identity. The HRMU negotiated with officials from the ‘Donetsk people’s republic’ and the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ukrainian military to escort him to safety.