Kyiv, Geneva, November 20, 2024 – The adoption of the Law on Legal and Social Protection of the Rights of Victims of Sexual Violence Related to the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, and Urgent Interim Reparations (No. 10132) by the Ukrainian parliament recognises survivors of conflict-related sexual violence as victims and ensures the creation of a concrete mechanism to provide them with prompt reparations.
Introduced by MP Maryna Bardina and developed in collaboration with the Global Survivors Fund (GSF), government representatives, civil society organisations, international partners and most importantly with survivors, the ‘Bardina Law’ is survivor-centric and offers them access to urgent interim reparations such as psychological support, medical care, and compensation. The law is expected to come into effect in the first half of 2025, making Ukraine the first country to implement urgent reparations for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence during an ongoing conflict.
“We welcome the adoption of the law”, said Fedir Dunebabin, GSF’s country representative in Ukraine. “This long-awaited piece of legislation reflects the survivors’ demand for State recognition of the crimes they suffered. It sends the message that victims of conflict-related sexual violence have a right to reparation, аnd that they are not alone.”
The project on Urgent Interim Reparations for conflict-related sexual violence survivors, initiated in 2023 by GSF in partnership with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine and the Government Commissioner on Gender Equality Policy, has been instrumental in shaping key provisions of the Law. By sharing lessons learned and showing the feasibility of providing urgent, survivor-centred interim reparations while avoiding re-traumatisation, the project has helped expedite the adoption of landmark legislation.
The registration of victims of sexual violence can be done while incorporating their voices in project decisions. It also demonstrated how interim reparations can effectively acknowledge the harm suffered by survivors and provide a bridge towards comprehensive state-led reparation programmes. Today’s parliamentary decision will enable this pilot project to become official policy.
Ukraine becomes the first country to implement urgent reparations for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence during an ongoing conflict.
