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Photo by Media Center Ukraine – Odesa: Olena Rotary, journalist, coordinator of the project “Coalition 1325. From Creation to Action” project; Liliia Leonidova, Master of Public Administration, Head of the NGO “Culture of Democracy”, Coordinator of the “Coalition 1325 – Odesa Region”; Olena Knyazeva, PhD in sociology, director of the sociological information and research center “Puls” (Pulse); Olha Perunova, deputy director of the department for human rights monitoring, head of the gender equality department of the Ministry of internal affairs of Ukraine
August 8, 2023, 15:10

A pilot project of an anonymous sociological survey on sexual violence at work has been launched in Odesa region

This is the first such project in Ukraine. Lilia Leonidova, head of the Culture of Democracy,  told this at a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine – Odesa.

She noted that due to the war, the level of sexual violence in the workplace has only increased, and women working in law enforcement, the medical sector, and the armed forces of Ukraine are increasingly facing sexual violence in the workplace.

“This is not only physical contact, but also offensive comments, jokes, gestures with sexual overtones. And there are mechanisms for compensation for such behavior, victims can receive compensation, but not everyone knows about their rights and does not know where to turn. We want to fix this. And after the survey, we want to discuss these issues. Every company and institution should have a code of ethical behavior,” – coordinator of the 1325 Coalition – Odesa Region said.

Olha Perunova, deputy director of the department for human rights monitoring, head of the gender equality department of the Ministry of internal affairs of Ukraine, noted that over a year ago Ukraine ratified the Istanbul Convention. Which, among other things, obliges to take legislative measures against sexual violence in the workplace.

“In the Ministry of Internal Affairs, we have amended legal acts, and in September we will hold a series of trainings to enable our employees to recognize cases of sexual harassment in the workplace,” – the official added.

Olena Knyazeva, the director of the Pulse Sociological Information and Research Center, noted that the survey will be anonymous, and its results will not be presentational. 

“Our task is to get a wide range of opinions on this topic. And in general, to find out how people understand what sexual harassment at work is. I think many people will hear about it for the first time,” – the expert added.

Olena Rotary, coordinator of the project Coalition 1325. From Creation to Action, added that the results of the survey will be presented on October 8, and, in her opinion, “we will be very surprised by the results.”

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news