Summary of needs
An estimated 2.4 million vulnerable internally displaced people and non-displaced war-affected people in Ukraine, predominantly women and girls, but also men and boys, are at high risk of gender-based violence (GBV) and in need of immediate and continuous life-saving GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response action. The ongoing full-scale war, deterioration of the security context, diminishing economic opportunities and other effects of the war have heightened risks of intimate partner violence, conflict-related sexual violence, sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), trafficking for sex, sexual harassment, survivor sex and other forms of GBV in the north-eastern, southern and eastern oblasts, and pockets in the west and central part of Ukraine. (Protection Analysis Update2024, Voices from Ukraine 2024and GBV AoR website).
Response strategy
The GBV AoR response strategy will focus on the provision of life-saving, holistic and quality coordinated GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response services, and other humanitarian interventions, to continue filling the gaps created by the war in the state’s capacity to respond to the essential needs of predominantly vulnerable women and girls, but also boys and men that suffered or are at GBV risk.
Life-saving GBV services that meet global GBV in Emergencies minimum standards of care will be available in diverse formats (static, mobile, electronic/e-platforms). These will include GBV case management, psychosocial and legal aid to GBV survivors and those at risk, GBV shelters and crises rooms, emergency support through GBV hotlines, and assistance through safe spaces for women and girls as primary entry points for GBV services. They also include cash and voucher assistance for GBV response, distribution of dignity kits to women and girls, access to life-saving information, and re-establishing intersectoral GBV referral pathways at local levels. Access to GBV services will be strengthened through the dissemination of life-saving information on available support and reinforcing the capacity of service providers to operate in line with the global minimum standards of care. In parallel, non-GBV humanitarian actors will be sensitized on GBV risk mitigation and survivor-centred approaches for the safe referral of survivors to GBV services. Strengthened management, and analysis of sensitive data and feedback collection mechanisms will ensure evidence-based response and strengthen advocacy interventions by GBV operational partners. The GBV AoR will continue to support GBV risk mitigation through humanitarian action.
Targeting and prioritization
In 2025, the GBV Area of Responsibility (AoR) will assist 0.71 million of the most vulnerable women, girls, boys and men, of a total of 2.42 million people in need. This includes 0.34 million vulnerable internally displaced people residing in and outside of collective sites in selected locations of highest need across the country; and 0.37 million non-displaced war-affected people remaining in urban and rural areas, including remote regions severely affected by the war, mostly in the north-east, east and south of Ukraine. This also includes front-line areas. Around 89 per cent of the planned reach are women and girls, and 11 per cent are men and boys affected and/or at high risk of GBV. Fifteen per cent of the planned reach are people with disabilities, 21 per cent are children and 26 per cent are older people.
The majority of GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response interventions will be provided to vulnerable internally displaced people and non-displaced war-affected people in raions with severity levels 4 (critical) and 5 (catastrophic), mostly located in the north-east, east and south of Ukraine. In comparison to 2024, GBV AoR’s target for raions with a severity 4 will increase by 20 per cent and for severity 5 by 3 per cent.
Minimum operational presence will be maintained in selected severity 3 (crises) and severity 2 (stress) raions, mostly located in the west and centre of Ukraine. In comparison to 2024, the planned reach for severity 2 and 3 will reduce by 24 per cent. This will cover internally displaced people (including those newly evacuated) and the most vulnerable non-displaced war-affected people in need of life-saving information on support services, and access to safe, confidential and timely assistance that includes GBV case management, psychosocial and legal advice, and CVA in GBV response. Support through safe spaces for women and girls, and GBV shelters, and crisis rooms will only be provided in locations where humanitarian actors already have established services.
Cost of response
An estimated $57.9 million will be required to provide life-saving GBV assistance in 2025. The average for each activity from 2024 was used as a benchmark for estimating the cost. The average costs were calculated from the range of costs submitted by partners and validated in consultations with the GBV AoR partners and members of the Strategic Advisory Group. It should be noted that average costs-per-person-per-activity vary across Ukraine with the highest costs incurred in areas close to the front line and in hard-to-reach rural areas. The overall cost drivers of GBV activities include logistical costs, competitive wages, and delivery of service in areas with damage to critical infrastructure (such as backup power generation). The costs also include emergency preparedness for the most vulnerable including provision of mobile psychosocial support services, distribution of dignity kits and dissemination of life-saving information (including information on reaching GBV hotline numbers and other crucial information).
