UN Action’s Impact
UN Action has been engaged in Ukraine since the Russian Federation invaded the country in February 2022. Ukraine stands as a strong illustration of how UN Action’s three core pillars (advocacy for action, knowledge building, and in-country operational support) converge to deliver a comprehensive, system-wide response to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in an active conflict setting.
Photos from our Activities
In-Country Operational Support
Under the joint project “UNited Action to Empower Survivors of CRSV” (August 2023–December 2025), implemented by IOM, UN Women, UNDP, WHO, UNFPA and UNODC, UN Action has supported the Government of Ukraine and civil society partners in strengthening national and community-level responses to CRSV. The project aimed to improve awareness, knowledge, institutional capacity and technical expertise, while expanding the availability and accessibility of comprehensive, multi-sectoral assistance for survivors. Anchored in localisation efforts, the initiative fostered national ownership and leadership, while empowering civil society organisations, survivor networks and women’s rights defenders to sustain a survivor-centred response.
At the operational level, the project represents the first-ever inter-agency initiative in Ukraine specifically designed to address gaps in CRSV response. Implemented in close partnership with the Government of Ukraine and civil society, including survivor networks, and coordinated with humanitarian structures, the initiative built on existing national arrangements rather than duplicating them. As of November 2025, the project had reached 2,229 beneficiaries, exceeding initial targets, including survivors (women, girls, men and boys), first-line responders, health practitioners, GBV service providers, psychotherapists, criminal justice actors, media professionals and CSOs. More than 350 survivors received direct support, while psychologists assisted prosecutors during interviews with 103 survivors, strengthening survivor-sensitive justice processes.
Knowledge Building
UN Action has supported the institutionalisation and professionalisation of CRSV responses in Ukraine by filling knowledge gaps Through the joint catalytic project, UN Action has driven legislative, policy and institutional milestones, supported by evidence-based tools and innovative approaches. Psychologists and legal experts consulted 139 survivors on reparations, with findings shared among 160 national stakeholders to inform policy discussions. A pool of 30 trained paralegals, many of them survivors, was established to expand access to justice and legal empowerment. In addition, digital and innovative solutions were introduced to improve service coordination and referral pathways, while rehabilitation retreats and specialised trainings reached 287 officials and 51 male survivors.
Knowledge exchange was further strengthened through targeted symposia, the roll-out of the national Prevention Framework in July 2024, and thematic workshops, including on LGBTIQ-inclusive responses in December 2025.
Advocacy for Action
These efforts have been reinforced by our advocacy efforts, ensuring sustained political commitment at the highest levels. The project is fully aligned with the Government of Ukraine–UN Framework of Cooperation (2022–2025), the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2025–2029), and the National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325. UN Action supported key advocacy moments, including engagement around the signing of the Framework of Cooperation on CRSV, and conducted several monitoring missions, most recently in December 2025, to maintain momentum, visibility and accountability for commitments made.
Survivor participation and leadership have been a defining feature across all pillars. UN Action supported survivor networks and provided funding to seven civil society organisations, ensuring that survivors’ voices directly shaped policies, services and prevention strategies. By bridging operational delivery with institutional reform, evidence generation and sustained advocacy, UN Action’s engagement in Ukraine demonstrates how its integrated approach can drive meaningful, survivor-centred and nationally owned change in one of the most complex CRSV contexts today.
