Odesa NGOs create a joint system to support war victims

An intersectoral roundtable of UNITED ACTION dedicated to coordinating the efforts of civil society organizations in supporting people affected by the war, including survivors of violence, torture, captivity or conflict-related sexual violence, was held in Odesa.

This was reported by Natalia Dovbysh, a photojournalist for Intent .

The event was initiated by the NGO Prozhektor. Representatives of human rights, psychological, medical and humanitarian organizations, including those working with the LGBTIQ+ community, survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, as well as former prisoners and victims of torture, joined the discussion.

Valeriy Bolhan, editor-in-chief. PHOTO: Natalia Dovbysh/Intent

During the roundtable, the participants focused on the problem of fragmented assistance, when different services operate separately, and victims do not always understand where to turn and where to start.

They also discussed the issue of priorities between recording war crimes and providing assistance to victims.

A roundtable discussion in Odesa. PHOTO: Natalia Dovbysh/Intent

Participants emphasized that these processes should be parallel and focused on human needs.

They also discussed the need to create a unified roadmap for redirecting victims between services, coordinating assistance routes, and forming an intersectoral coalition of organizations.

The round table in Odesa. PHOTO: Natalia Dovbysh/Intent

According to the organizers, in the future, the UNITED ACTION initiative can become a platform for expanding cooperation and attracting international support for comprehensive assistance to war victims.

At the end of November, Intent.Insight discussed how war crimes are documented in Ukraine, who is involved in this process, what results have already been achieved, and whether journalists are able to influence the investigation. Experts emphasized that the effectiveness of such investigations depends on the correct legal documentation of evidence and coordinated cooperation between the state and international partners.

Анна Бальчінос