Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal with the participation of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska chaired a meeting dedicated to shaping in 2021 a network of specialized support services for victims of domestic and/or gender-based violence.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Social Policy Maryna Lazebna, Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksii Chernyshov, Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova, lawmakers, heads of Regional State Administrations, representatives of international organizations and social bodies.

The Prime Minister dwelled on the importance of ensuring the stable operation of the network of specialized support services for victims: shelters, hotlines, support centers, mobile teams.

"To do this, it is crucial to consolidate the actions of all branches of government, international organizations and civil society. The issue of the involvement of local governments and communities remains critical. After all, it is the officials in communities, village and rural councils who must monitor the situation on a daily basis and ensure timely and effective measures in the field of preventing and combating domestic violence in the territories entrusted to them," the Prime Minister said.

First Lady Olena Zelenska stressed the importance of participating local councils in setting up a network of specialized support services for victims of domestic and gender-based violence and implementing the subvention approved by the government this year.

"We need a coordinated and comprehensive work of everyone on this issue. Also - stability and productivity in the organization of specialized support services for victims of domestic violence and gender-based violence. In 2021, the processes of creating shelters, counseling services that provide primary care and daycare centers for social and psychological assistance were launched," Olena Zelenska stressed.

On the outcomes of the meeting, the regional, Kyiv city state administrations, and local self-government bodies were instructed to take under personal control the timeliness and quality implementation of subvention from the state budget to local budgets to create a network of specialized support services for victims of domestic and/or gender-based violence in 2021.

They should also provide the necessary funding in local budgets for 2022 to ensure the social order and stimulate the market of social service providers for victims of domestic violence and gender-based violence.