Zaporuka Foundation launches initiative to support people affected by domestic violence
The Breaking the Silence project aims to support Ukrainians affected by domestic violence. The Zaporuka Foundation will provide comprehensive assistance in the Lviv region, including psychological and legal support to victims of domestic violence. The project also provides essential items to women staying in shelters and crisis rooms seeking safety for themselves and their children.
The initiative is being implemented with the technical support of UN Women in Ukraine and funded by the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). WPHF is a flexible and fast-track funding instrument that supports quality interventions aimed at increasing the capacity of local women to prevent conflict, respond to crises and emergencies, and seize key peacebuilding opportunities.
Domestic violence is one of the most pressing social problems in society. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, in 2023, about 300,000 cases of domestic violence were registered in Ukraine, with the majority of victims being women. This is 20% more than in 2022. In the Lviv region, about 13,000 calls to law enforcement agencies were recorded during this period from residents and visitors of Lviv and the region seeking protection and safety.
Behind each number are broken lives, psychological trauma, and children growing up in fear. The “Zaporuka” initiative aims to change this sad reality and lend a helping hand to affected women.
“The focus of our foundation is to care for and support Ukrainian families in times of need. Our new project is no exception. We want to be there for women and children who don’t feel safe in their own homes and are experiencing violence. It is not only physical abuse, but also psychological pressure, economic coercion and sexual abuse. All of this often causes invisible wounds that hurt the most.
We want every woman who suffers to know that she is not alone, and silence is not an option. There are always people nearby to whom you can turn for help,” says Natalia Onipko, President of Zaporuka.
It should be noted that this is not the first time Zaporuka has cooperated with UN Women in Ukraine and the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). Last year, as part of the We Can Do It project, the foundation supported more than 1,500 women and children from war-affected regions of Ukraine.
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About Zaporuka Foundation
“Zaporuka is a charitable foundation with many years of experience in the healthcare sector, founded in 2008. We help to overcome life’s challenges so that Ukrainians feel their own value and dignity during treatment and in difficult times, guided by three values: humanity, honesty, and efficiency.
Since its inception, the foundation has supported families of seriously ill children and created conditions for families to be together during treatment. Since 2009, 1347 children and their families have been given the opportunity to stay at Dacha free of charge. This is the first family home in Ukraine where families of seriously ill children can live free of charge next to a hospital.