Overcoming the trauma of wartime sexual violence

Since the beginning of the full-scale war against Ukraine, russia has been committing numerous war crimes. Sexual violence is one of the worst. It is terror against civilians, a way to break the resistance of the civilian population through oppression. 

Melinda Simmons, the British Ambassador to Ukraine, notes that the Russian military rapes Ukrainian women not only because they feel impunity, but also because rape is part of their military strategy. "Rape is a weapon of war. While we do not yet know the full extent of its use in Ukraine, it is clear that it was part of the Russian arsenal... Women were raped in front of their children and their families, as a deliberate act of subjugation. Rape is a war crime," Simmons wrote on Twitter.

Women feel pain, despair, fear, and shame. However, many of them remain silent for fear of being judged and stigmatised by society. The consequences are devastating: mental disorders, addictions, and even suicide.  

Professional psychological support will help them to go through the path of healing, so that women can find the strength to live and develop, build harmonious relationships, and thus we can create a harmonious society together. 

The GIDNA project by the team of the Charitable Organisation “Future for Ukraine” offers timely, qualified psychological assistance. All counselling is provided by psychotherapists who have many years of experience working with the trauma of violence and have received special training from psychologist Ruth Dorum of the Israel Trauma Coalition, which specializes in working with sexual violence and the mental effects of war. This knowledge is unique in its relevance and importance for Ukraine, and it helps our women. 

The GIDNA project strives to help as many women as possible. Today, its goal is to provide 100 psychological counselling sessions to women who have experienced or witnessed sexual violence by the russian military. The amount needed is 120,000 UAH. The cost of one session with a qualified therapist is 1,200 UAH, and one woman needs 10 sessions on average. Thus, for the amount of UAH 120,000 raised, the charitable foundation will be able to help nearly 10 more women.

The GIDNA project will be very grateful to everyone who is willing to help Ukrainian women! To make a donation, click on the green button and send any amount you like.

Remember, we all deserve a decent life!

UPD: the name of the project have been updated. Old project name: "Overcoming the trauma: sexual violence during war".