To inform is to act

During four days, 28-31 of October, a training was organized in Kyiv for psychologists who work with victims of a gender-based violence.

The relevancy of such events is confirmed by the interest of participants from different regions of the state and various institutions, both governmental and non-governmental.

During the event, trainers revealed various aspects of this topic. Particular attention was paid to legislation that standardize and regulates activities in this area. Participants were actively involved in the discussion of mechanisms and protocols that determine the sequence of specific measures to work with victims of a gender-based violence.

Special attention should be paid to the trainers' creation of opportunities to learn specific techniques for specialists' further work in the field of GBV. The exercises addressed the question of how to create safe conditions for working with victims of violence and how to detect it on early stages.

A separate block described how to detect signs that a person is suffering from gender-based violence. Participants were presented with a list of possible behavioural changes that require special attention of psychologists, social workers and responsible deputies/managers of enterprises, as well as the immediate environment. That is, informing the population is already an important tool in detecting and preventing gender-based violence.

As a result of the whole event, it is worth noting the group's conclusion that specialists involved in work with victims of a violence at various stages need intervision and supervision support, as well as favourable conditions for personal stabilization, because such activities increase psychological burden on them and the level of their responsibility.

The event was held in the frames of the "Peace Building and Conflict Resolution in Ukraine – Step Forward" project, implemented with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office’s funds by IFA (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen), Funding programme zivik.