Project Summary

The project objective is to contribute towards improving the state response to violence against children in Ukraine. It supports strengthening the country’s child protection framework and judicial system with focus on the protection of children against sexual violence, promotion of child-friendly justice practices and the rights of the child in the digital environment.

The project aims to increase awareness especially on the phenomenon of child sexual exploitation and abuse, harmonise Ukrainian legal and policy framework in line with international standards, strengthen interagency cooperation at policy and operational level, and build capacities and skills of Ukrainian professionals working with and for children. Implemented during the period of April 2020-December 2021, it targets national and regional authorities, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, social workers, teachers and educators.

The project is a direct follow-up to the to the previous Council of Europe project on Combating violence against women and children (2017/DG II/VC/3800) implemented in 2017-2018. In 2012 Ukraine ratified the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention), which is the most ambitious and comprehensive international legal instrument aimed at preventing and protecting children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse as well as prosecuting perpetrators and promoting international cooperation in these areas. Since then Ukraine has been since supported by the Council of Europe to effectively implement the Convention.

To learn more about the project objectives, results, activities, partners and target groups, please consult the project webpage.