This is the first time that compensation is paid to victims of sexual violence in war even before the end of the conflict.
Ukrainians raped by Russian soldiers will be paid the first compensations in the coming weeks, says Olena Zelenska, wife of the Ukrainian president according to the British newspaper The Guardian.
A list of approximately 500 victims of sexual violence is currently being compiled in order to pay compensation. The victims are also promised healthcare and psychological help.
This is the first time that compensation has been paid to the victims while the conflict is still ongoing. Zelenska stated in March at the international conference organized on the matter, that the victims cannot wait for the traditional way of compensation, i.e. for the war to end or for Russia to agree to pay compensation.
He manages the replacement project with Ukraine Global Survivors Fund. It pays compensation for the donations it receives from the states. Commissioner for Human Rights of the Parliament of Ukraine told in the middle of the monththat each victim would receive around 3,000 euros.
The fund estimates that Russian soldiers have committed sexual violence against thousands of Ukrainians during their war of aggression. The exact number is unknown, as it is believed that most victims do not report their experiences. They often don’t get understanding from the community.
UN special representative investigating sexual violence in conflicts Pramila Patten has accused Russia of using rape as a military strategy.
Director of the Global Survivors Fund Esther Dingemans states that it is not just a question of compensation, but that it is also important for the victims to acknowledge the atrocities they have experienced.
According to Dingemans, Ukraine has effectively tried to remove the shame that is often associated with victims of sexual violence. He especially thanks Zelenska for keeping the issue up and the laws under consideration by the parliament. They would define sexual violence committed in conflicts as a separate crime and establish a national registry to record the cases.
According to the fund, in many countries men rarely seek help after being victims of sexual violence in conflicts, but in Ukraine it has been different: many men have also stood up to demand justice.
Global Survivors Fund defends the rights of those who have experienced sexual violence in conflicts. They founded the fund in 2019 Nobel laureates doctor Denis Mukwege and Nadia Muradwho have worked to eradicate sexual violence in conflicts.