and placeswithconcentrated IDPpopulations. existing healthcare facilitiesalongthecontactline Emergency servicedeliverypoints(SDPs) basedon In March, UNFPA 10 establishedthenetworkof A UNIQUESERVICE FORSEXUAL ORPHYSICAL VIOLENCE SURVIVORS deliveres modernlife-savingequipmentthere. To provide medicalassistanceinconflictareas UNFPA SAFE DELIVERY EVENINCONFLICT ISSUE 06|MAY 2017 HUMANITARIAN NEWSLETTER KEY FIGURES* *all data wasestimated through February-March 2017 delivered toDonetsk and Luhansk GCA examination kits 25,000 gynecological 24/7 toll-free National calls received bythe 5,540 hotline

reported toUNFPA cases of violence cases of mobile teams 2,688 reproductive health care to good-qualitysexual and confidential, 24/7access to provide vital, inclusive, care facilitiesandwillaim cated withinexisting health delivery pointswillbelo reproductive health service Emergency sexual and vors. and referral GBV survi of and psychologicalcare comprehensive medical and treatment aswell STI syndromic diagnostics on STI/HIV prevention and trained theSDPpersonnel violence. UNFPA has genderbased survivors of and girls, aswellto free-of-charge towomen ON WATCH A SHORT-FILM ABOUT RUBIZHNE’SHOSPITAL where care there andqualityequipment. isalackof everynewborn,aims tosavethelifeand health of even lected bytheRegional State Administration. The Fund ward servesastheinter-district obstetric hospital, se ly borninfantsandwithlowbirth weight. The significantly decrease themortality premature rate of usedimmediately after birth,If incubators help to there ontime. deliveries, andmostimportantly, that assistancewillbe neonatal care isavailableevenduringcomplicated may rest assured that highlyspecializedobstetricand hospital inRubizhne. Future mothersinLuhansk region kits 4 fetalmonitors In February, theFund provided 2neonatal incubators, UNFPA UKRAINE YOUTUBE CHANNEL

and 6 functionalhospitalbeds emergency reproductive health kitsdelivered to , eastern regions 1500 gynecologicalexamination 150 - - delivery pointsopened in hospitals of in hospitalsof emergency service toamaternity and Luhansk GCA . 10

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- - UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN NEWSLETTER ISSUE 06 | MAY 2017

PARTNERS’ FIRST-HAND LOOK AT UNFPA HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

During 21-22 March, diplomatic repre- sentatives from Estonia, Austria, Norway, Canada and the EU visited medical and psychosocial facilities provided by UN- FPA in Donetsk region. During the visit, UNFPA donors witnessed firsthand the challenges of providing continuity of health and psychological help to GBV survivors and the most vulnerable wom- en affected by the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Donors met with UNFPA Psychosocial support Mobile Teams (PSS MT) that cover and Konstantynivka areas. This was followed by a visit to Center of Psychosocial Support in , where donors had a chance to meet gender-based violence (GBV) survivors and listen to their stories. The Jennifer Cooper, Deputy Director and Chief of Operations, center, which serves the needs of domes- Development program, Global Affairs Canada tic violence survivors, is a potential loca- “It was both moving and heartwarming to visit the hospital in Pokrovsk where UNFPA is tion for opening the 24/7 shelter. lending a hand in care for women who suffered from gender-based violence. Hearing the doctors describing how their own understanding of GBV has been changed through UN- Within the second day, diplomatic guests FPA trainings is in itself a victory. I am so happy to know that UNFPA is supporting places visited Pokrovsk Central Raion hospital, like this, already painfully impacted by the nearby conflict, and helping to update not just facilities, but attitudes and practices as well.” which provides maternal health services and assistance to GBV survivors. In Feb- ruary, the hospital was equipped with an Petter Bauck, Counsellor for Development, Royal Norwegian Embassy incubator, fetal monitors, and reproduc- “Two days with the UNFPA in the East gave more insight into the importance of work- tive health kits that help to save lives of ing with GBV survivors. Through support to existing institutions, with capacity building mothers and their babies. Additionally, and support to renovation and equipment, and through additional services like mobile representatives of the diplomatic com- teams, UNFPA, together with local authorities, professionals in hospitals and civil society, munity saw the 24/7 shelter for GBV gives a supporting hand to people in need, and helps them become useful resources survivors that was opened by UNFPA in and important witnesses in society.” Kharkiv in December 2016. Based on the results of the shelter’s performance, Agnes Zauner, Political Consultant, Austrian Embassy Kharkiv Municipality committed to fund “The field trip showed us the often not-spoken-about effects of the war in Eastern the shelter starting in 2018. Ukraine. It is important to speak out and do something about GBV and its harm to individ- uals and society.”

Anastasiia Mykhailova, Project Coordinator, Humanitarian Assistance and UNFPA UKRAINE Development Cooperation, Embassy of the Republic of Estonia to Ukraine PARTNER’S “The field mission was very well organized and extremely important because it enables IMPRESSIONS FROM one to see the actual people substantiating the blunt statistics. The issue of gen- THE VISIT: TO der-based violence in Ukraine is omnipresent and still unspoken about. UNFPA activities in the east are of utmost importance since they address acute needs of real people and EASTERN REGIONS provide men and women with the support and tools needed to overcome the obstacles despite the fragility of the region and lack of trust and hope. It is through multilateral partnerships and programs like this Ukraine can get a grip on the situation and take the necessary steps to solve the issue of gender-based violence.”

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EVALUATING THE ECONOMIC COSTS OF VIOLENCE

In fall 2016, UNFPA and the Ukrainian Centre for development agendas, and for intensifying the Social Reforms initiated an assessment of the eco- societal debate on the unacceptability and eradica- nomic cost of violence against women. tion of violence.

The study produces best estimates of lost econom- Currently, the report is being finalized and it will ic output, service costs and personal costs related be publicly presented in May-June. The research is to violence against women in the context of the funded by UNFPA from the Department for Interna- national economy. The study will provide economic tional Development’s (DFID) contribution towards arguments for making violence against women a the UNFPA humanitarian response programme. higher priority on national, political, economic and

PROMOTING GENDER BALANCE IN FAMILIES

Men’s active engagement in equal distribution of fami- The event was organized in the framework of the “Four ly responsibilities is vital for overall well-being. In order Hands Happiness” project, in recognition of Interna- to promote men’s commitment to household duties tional Women’s Day. Caspar Peak, UNFPA Represen- and children’s upbringing, UNFPA organized a “Festi- tative in Ukraine, opened the event and shared his val for happy families”. personal experience of a year-long paternity leave. He emphasized that men and women must devote equal time to the education of their children.

A successful journalist working for “1+1” TV channel, Marichka Padalko, supported the project for the sec- ond time. She shared her secrets of a happy marriage and drew attention to the challenges of working moth- ers, striving to balance professional aspirations with personal life. This year the event was also supported by Vladislav Golovin, the founder of “The father’s club”. He led the push-up challenge (with children their parents’ backs!) and fathers’ hairdressing competition, and inspired others by personal example.

Participants of the event had an opportunity to take part in the survey about gender roles and stereotypes in Ukrainian families.

ENHANCING MULTI-SECTORAL RESPONSE TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

Towards the end of March 2017, UNFPA Ukraine other experts, where they had a chance to share and the East European Institute for Reproductive best practices and experiences. Health organized a capacity development work- shop in and an advocacy event in Kyiv. As a result, participants in the Mariupol workshop drafted an action plan for advancing multi-sec- The Fund brought together governmental coun- toral response. The advocacy event resulted in terparts from central and regional levels, civil soci- identification of key measures to be taken at the ety organizations, international agencies, donors, national level to ensure prevention of GBV. health care providers, police, social workers, and

Page 3 UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN NEWSLETTER ISSUE 06 | MAY 2017

UNFPA MOBILE TEAMS BRING PEOPLE BACK TO LIFE - A STORY OF NATALIA us; as soon as we got used to peace in a new place, Natalia is 34 years old. On September 30, 2014, explosions and gunshots arrived.” her life was divided into a “before” and “after”; “On 30 September 2014, I decided to go the local along with seven of her relatives, Natalia wit- market to buy food with my uncle, cousins, and a few nessed shelling from “Grad” rocket launchers others. We were walking down the street when the clash started. It was “Grad” shelling, a type that can and survived. hardly be heard and arrives without warning: just a few seconds, a shock, and it’s on the ground.”

“I still remember the horror when I opened my eyes just few seconds after the rocket landed and saw my relatives scattered in different directions. My uncle was lying on me, dying. My body was mangled by the explosion. My left leg was literally held on by a small piece of skin. I can barely remember what hap- pened to me afterwards.”

“In the past two years, I have had more than ten sur- geries. With the help of compassionate , I was able to get an endoprosthesis (artificial joint), which helps my leg move in a more or less normal way. Thanks to my mother and UNFPA psychosocial mobile teams, I got my life back.” “On June 22, 2014, approximately at 12 p.m. my hometown was attacked by fighter planes,” Natalia recalls. “It was a typical workday. I remember our di- rector running into our room and crying “It’s started, did you hear that? Grab all you need and hide in the basement. They are attacking Pervomaisk!”

“It is difficult to describe the panic that spread through the town. Fear and despair seized our city - people were screaming, crying, and gripping each other’s’ hands. In one breath, I managed to take my passport, and I hid with my mother in the basement of our apartment block. There were around 20 adults plus their children. We counted the days, and from time to time we tried to go back to our apartments to get something to satisfy our basic needs.”

“Since the beginning of the war, my mother and I moved seven times. However, the fear was following

United Nations Poulation Fund United Nations Poulation Fund Country Office in Ukraine (Kyiv) Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Istambul) http://www.unfpa.org.ua http://eeca.unfpa.org e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]

Delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young persons’s potential is fulfilled

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