In Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, Latvian ambassador Ilgvars Kļava opened a rehabilitation center in November for women who have suffered from sexual abuse crimes committed by the Russian army.
The Center, in cooperation with Ivano-Frankivsk medical institutions, will provide shelter, physical and mental rehabilitation, including social, psychological, and legal, as well as medical assistance. The center Marta was also invested in the work.
“Thanks to Latvian donors, we have succeeded in creating a team of specialists who are already trained, they also have methodological materials, and they have already started working with women, although they are only being moved to this shelter now,” said Lāce.
"Assistance and support are also needed further to strengthen this team so that support can be provided in the future. One is that we provide rehabilitation and support, but we certainly don't want the crimes to go unnoticed, overlooked. We want those responsible for these crimes to indeed carry the responsibility, and to be brought to the court," she said.
Similarly, the Center Marta, in cooperation with partners in Ukraine, the non-governmental association Eleos-Ukraine, has opened a hotline for victims of sexual crimes and torture. The trusted phone provides advice, psychological assistance, information and access to social, medical, legal and humanitarian assistance.
104 women have already received assistance. In parallel, a project is being carried out to educate specialists and fellow people so that they can detect, report, and support victims.
A donation can be made on the center's website to continue providing free assistance to Ukrainian women and their children affected by violence, with a view to continuing the ongoing projects, crime documentation, and shelter activities.
