War's Shadows: Healing Gender-Based Violence through Psychosocial Aid

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War's Shadows: Healing Gender-Based Violence through Psychosocial Aid

The news has been published: 13.12.2022

War's Shadows: Healing Gender-Based Violence through Psychosocial Aid

On December 8-12 in Truskavets, a training "Psychosocial Support for Individuals with Experience of Gender-Based Violence During War" was conducted. Practicing psychologists, staff of psychological centers, public and humanitarian organizations working in the field of psychological recovery of individuals affected by gender-based violence, especially during military actions, participated in the training.

As armed aggression, the subsequent conflict resolution period, and cases of forced displacement of people exacerbate the scale and intensity of existing forms of violence, as well as lead to new ones, the goal of the training was to provide participants with advanced knowledge and practical skills in psychological support of the victims, their mental recovery and reintegration into full life, as well as to teach them to work with retraumatization.

Considerable attention was given to the analysis of concepts of sex and gender, as well as the types and content of gender-based violence. Practical cases, presented by trainers Olena Sudakova and Olesia Druzhyna, helped participants deepen their knowledge in international and Ukrainian legislation on countering gender-based violence, become acquainted with mechanisms for prevention and response to gender-based violence, and principles of assistance to at-risk groups.

During the training, participants found that the topic of gender-based violence is wrapped in many stereotypes, false beliefs, and biased assertions. Almost everyone has encountered comments like "real men don't cry" or "45 years old and still not married" in their lives. The manifestations of violence and the main markers were discussed by participants during work in small groups on the second day of the training.

Undoubtedly, important aspects considered on the training were the specifics of counseling individuals with experiences of violence. In particular, the fact that any approaches in working with such individuals must definitely be adapted considering the characteristics and specifics of the assistance needed. Tools and instruments may vary depending on the age group the professional is working with, especially with children.

During the exchange of impressions at the end of the training, participants noted the difficulty of the topic, but at the same time its extreme relevance in contemporary psychological practice.

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.

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