KYIV, Ukraine — Authorities in Ukraine have created a national registry to document cases of sexual violence allegedly committed by Russian forces, a senior prosecutor told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Viktoriia Litvinova, the country’s deputy prosecutor general, said that the registry was created out of a pilot project that had already resulted in the convictions of five people in absentia. She declined to comment on details of the cases.
“We used to have to visit territories where hostilities are taking place ourselves,” she said. “But now people – individuals who have experienced sexual abuse – are seeking us out for information.”
Litvinova said 303 cases of conflict-related sexual violence had been registered since the start of the full-scale invasion in early 2022, with 112 involving male and 191 involving female victims. Some of the victims have suffered from multiple assaults, she said.
The initiative was announced on the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence, and has received assistance from U.N. agencies and several Western governments.
Government officials said the registry could be used to make claims for financial compensation for the victims from Russia in the future. The five convictions resulted from sexual assault allegations in areas attacked or occupied by Russian forces, in Kyiv and the cities of Kherson and Chernihiv.
Massimo Diana, a representative of the U.N. Population Fund, said the actual number of victims was likely to be much higher than those in the registry.
“This violence has been perpetrated on women and girls, on men and boys. Nobody has been exempted from the risk of this heinous act,” Diana said.
His agency had assisted in creating 12 support centers around the country for victims of domestic violence and sexual attacks, he said, along with three mobile facilities.
To raise awareness for the program and to encourage victims to come forward, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna unveiled a painting by artist Julia Tveritina at a gallery and art center in Kyiv.
“The (painting) is of men and women surrounded by yellow rapeseed flowers,” Stefanishyna said. “This flower renews itself after the frost, and it symbolizes hope that all of the survivors may leave their traumatic events in the past.” ___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
In a groundbreaking move, Ukraine has recently established a national sexual assault registry specifically for victims of Russian forces. This registry is a crucial step towards providing justice and support for survivors of sexual violence in conflict zones, where such crimes are often underreported and overlooked.
The decision to create this registry comes in the wake of increasing reports of sexual violence perpetrated by Russian forces during the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. According to human rights organizations, these acts of sexual violence have been used as a weapon of war to intimidate, terrorize, and control civilian populations.
The establishment of the national sexual assault registry is a significant milestone in Ukraine’s efforts to address and combat sexual violence in conflict. The registry will serve as a centralized database where survivors can report their experiences, access support services, and seek justice for the crimes committed against them.
By creating this registry, Ukraine is sending a clear message that sexual violence will not be tolerated and that perpetrators will be held accountable for their actions. It also demonstrates a commitment to supporting survivors and providing them with the resources they need to heal and rebuild their lives.
In addition to the registry, Ukraine has also implemented measures to ensure that survivors of sexual violence have access to medical care, counseling, legal assistance, and other support services. These efforts are crucial in helping survivors recover from the trauma of sexual assault and rebuild their lives in the aftermath of conflict.
The establishment of a national sexual assault registry for victims of Russian forces is a significant step forward in addressing the issue of sexual violence in conflict zones. It sends a powerful message that these crimes will not go unpunished and that survivors will be supported in their journey towards healing and justice. Ukraine’s initiative should serve as a model for other countries facing similar challenges and as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing the rights and well-being of survivors of sexual violence in conflict.
