The NGO Shadow report “Sexual Violence and Stigmatisation of Victims” examines the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence in Ukraine. The report identifies significant barriers within the Ukrainian criminal justice system that impede justice for victims of sexual violence. It emphasizes how entrenched gender-based myths and stereotypes negatively impact the treatment of victims and the outcomes of sexual violence cases.

Despite legislative reforms aimed at aligning Ukraine’s legal framework with international standards, such as the gender-neutral and consent-based definition of rape, practical application remains hindered by societal and institutional biases. The report underscores the necessity of adopting a victim-centered approach and highlights the importance of continuous training for judicial and law enforcement officials to eliminate these biases and improve support for victims.

This comprehensive evaluation is a collaborative effort of the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC), Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice (WIGJ), Equality Now, La Strada Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group (ULAG).

The authors of this report would like to thank its supporters and partners, and in particular the Canadian Government’s Peace and Stabilization Operations Program, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Open Society Foundations for their generous support in producing this publication. The views expressed in this publication are those of the co-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of our donors, nor any of their affiliated organisations.