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