Domestic violence/intimate partner violence (DV/IPV) and gender-based violence (GBV) are relatively widespread in Ukraine. Yet, despite positive developments in Ukrainian GBV legislations introduced in 2019, GBV specialized service providers still struggle with understanding and applying newly-introduced legislative norms. Particularly considering the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine’s eastern regions and the recent COVID-19 related movement restrictions, existing challenges related to DV/IPV and GBV prevention are likely exacerbated, in turn limiting an adequate inter-sectoral response.

To identify the main gaps and challenges related to GBV service access and provision, IMPACT Initiatives (IMPACT) has conducted 252 facility key informant interviews (FKIs) with representatives of GBV service providers working in various sectors, such as healthcare, social, and administrative services. This method has strived to capture, on the one hand, the capacities of service providers to assist survivors of GBV, and on the other hand, the demand for GBV-specific service and care. In parallel, IMPACT conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) in 23 different settlements, consulting a total of 152 women. The FGDs were undertaken to collect information on the population of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts on:

• the forms of violence present in their settlement;
• the services available for survivors of GBV;
• and possible barriers accessing those services.

The findings of this study aim to support the promotion of community resilience to GBV and complete a large-scale Hromada Capacity and Vulnerability assessment aiming to support local authorities and development actors with evidence-based local planning.

This assessment is part of the 5-year “EU Support to the East of Ukraine - Recovery, Peacebuilding and Governance” project, implemented by the United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme.