“Russia uses rape as a military strategy”: The first payments of war reparations for the war in Ukraine begin – World

A total of 500 Ukrainian women victims of sexual violence in the conflict will receive reparations this year, including financial, medical and psychological support.

Zelenska said: “Reparations to victims of serious human rights violations, including victims of sexual violence in the conflict, are not just economic support.” It is an important step towards the establishment of justice.

And this justice is needed not only in Ukraine,” she said. “Justice for Ukrainian victims of violence is now a mirror for the world itself”.

According to the Global Fund for Survivors, which manages the project with Ukraine using funds from donor governments, it will be the first time survivors have been awarded reparations during an active conflict.

“Rehabilitation and compensation are an element of reparation, but what survivors find very important is recognition,” said Esther Dingemans, director of the fund, which was launched in 2019 by Nobel Peace Prize laureates Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad to help victims of sexual-related violence with conflict.

“The reparations scheme offers confirmation that what happened to them has been officially recognised. This also sends a message to the wider community,” added Dingemans.

The total number of Ukrainians who suffered sexual violence at the hands of Russian forces is unknown, as most survivors do not report the crimes. The Global Fund for Survivors estimates that there are thousands.

Pramila Patten, the UN special representative on sexual violence in the conflict, accused Russia of using rape as a “military strategy”, citing cases of soldiers “equipped with Viagra”.

Lyudmila Huseynova was one of eight Ukrainian civilians freed in the first prisoner exchange with Russia, along with 100 Ukrainian soldiers in October 2022. She spent three years imprisoned by separatist forces in eastern Donetsk province.

“Unfortunately, there is still a lot of victim blaming, especially in smaller rural areas.” When I was released, we didn’t even understand what sexual violence was related to the conflict.”

When separatist forces seized her hometown of Novoazovsk in Donetsk in 2014, Huseynova got involved in helping orphaned children on the front lines by collecting donations from all over Ukraine.

“For three years and 13 days I was kept in an overcrowded cage,” she said. “I couldn’t see the sky and the air was heavy with cigarette smoke.”

When I was released, I had to relearn how to use my legs and breathe with all my lungs.”

After her release, she was taken to a military hospital in Dnieper, but the staff there were unable to properly deal with a survivor of sexual torture.

“The hospital was overcrowded and understaffed,” Hussain said. “I don’t blame the doctors there at all, but they weren’t prepared to deal with someone like me.”

They didn’t know how to approach me or talk to me, which caused more psychological damage in the long run.”

Her experience prompted her to work with the Global Survivors Fund and become an advocate for survivors and other women still incarcerated. She hopes that victims of sexual violence will now be surrounded by support and understanding that she was unable to access.

“Reparations can help, but they must include holistic support for physical and mental health.” Women need to have access to a psychologist – not just for a few sessions, but for as long as they need. The trauma of sexual violence does not go away.”

Husejnova said she stays in touch with other women from Donetsk who have been in detention for years. “I’m trying to send them some packages.” No humanitarian mission is working there. Humanitarian aid is not sent there. When they are menstruating, these women use stuffing from an old mattress for bed instead of pads.”

Dingemans said that Ukrainian civil society and the government have been effective in addressing the stigma surrounding survivors, pointing to Zelenska’s vocal advocacy on the issue, as well as new laws moving through parliament. If passed, the laws will define sexual violence in conflict as a separate crime and establish a national registry to record cases.