Zaporuka Foundation presented the results of research on barriers to combating domestic violence in Lviv region

Zaporuka Foundation presented the results of research on barriers to combating domestic violence in Lviv region

In 2024, the operational line 102 received more than 8,800 appeals on domestic violence in the Lviv region. These are not just numbers - behind every call there is a person, most often a woman or a girl, who has lost a sense of security in her own home.

In order to better understand the needs of victims and understand how to strengthen the support system in the Lviv region, the Zaporuka Foundation team conducted two in-depth studies in cooperation with the Sense Research agency as part of the Breaking the Silence project.

The first study focused on the women themselves and their stories. The in-depth interviews showed that before reporting to the police, most victims were unaware of the existence of shelters and the full range of available social services.

This indicates a key need to make assistance more accessible and increase awareness. After all, shelters, crisis rooms and day centers provide women with a safe space for recovery, legal advice, psychological support and other assistance needed to safely overcome a crisis situation.

The second study was dedicated to the professionals who help victims every day. Their work is one of the most important links in the response system.

The results showed that despite the war, stress and emotional burden, social workers remain committed to their work. At the same time, they need more opportunities for experience exchange, supervision, and practical training. Such opportunities would not only strengthen their professional resilience but also improve the quality of social services.

"We hope that the results of the research will become the basis for further decisions that will strengthen the assistance system and take into account the real needs of women. Our research aims not only to analyze the situation, but also to unite communities, authorities, police and NGOs in creating a safe environment where every woman and girl has a chance to live a life free of violence," says Natalia Onipko, Chairman of the Board of Zaporuka Foundation.

The full texts of the reports are available at link.

The research was conducted as part of the "Breaking the Silence" project implemented by Zaporuka Foundation with technical support from UN Women in Ukraine and funded by the UN Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), a flexible and responsive funding instrument that supports quality interventions to increase the capacity of local women to prevent conflict, respond to crises and emergencies, and seize key peacebuilding opportunities.