On October 3, a roundtable discussion was held to address the challenges that victims of sexual and gender-based crimes (SGBC) face during the criminal justice process.
The event, organised by GRC with support from the European Union, brought together victims, prosecutors, investigators, and international experts. The goal was to improve understanding of the SGBC victims’ experiences and find ways to better support them through the criminal process, from reporting crimes to pretrial procedures.
“Victims often face additional trauma when going through the justice process. We need to make sure they receive the support they need,” said Anna Sosonska, head of the CRSV Unit of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
This event served as a platform to identify the key challenges that victims face when engaging with the criminal justice system. Engaging with victims who are willing to share their stories is crucial. They are the true authorities on their experiences, and it is essential that we listen and learn from them.
“Ukrainian prosecutors are facing an enormous scale of such crimes, both in terms of their number and gravity. Sexual and gender-based crimes are among the most challenging to investigate, creating difficulties for both law enforcement and victims. It is crucial to remember that the guiding principle must be to ‘do no harm’ while navigating this complex process and to ensure that victims play a substantial role in the judicial process,” stated Karine Ardault, Team Lead of the CRSV Mobile Justice Team.
The event focused on the role of prosecutors and investigators in building stronger cases by applying a victim-centered approach. The insights gained from this roundtable will be used to improve the prosecuting and investigating SGBC crimes.
“We support the efforts of Ukrainian prosecutors and investigators in addressing the unprecedented scale of these crimes. Our partnership aims to provide the necessary resources and training to ensure that both victims and law enforcement receive the support they need. Together, we can foster a justice system that prioritises compassion and effectively addresses the complexities of these atrocities,” highlighted Arturo Rodriguez Tonelli, Regional Program Manager, EU Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI).
GRC’s CRSV Mobile Justice Team is a part of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA). The ACA is a multilateral initiative established by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom to support and assist Ukrainian law enforcement and prosecutors in investigating and prosecuting international crimes committed during a full-scale war.
*This event was organised with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Global Rights Compliance and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
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