Dnipro City Survivor Relief Centre

📍 A meeting was held at the Dnipro City Survivor Relief Centre to establish further cooperation with the head of the Victim and Witness Support Division of the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

Larisa Kerimova-Bandyukova spoke about the work of a new specialized unit within the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office, which provides assistance to individuals with victim or witness status in criminal proceedings involving war crimes.

During the meeting, Ms. Larisa elaborated on the mechanisms for cooperation that allow law enforcement and social services to coordinate their efforts to create a safe environment for individuals who have decided to testify. Specialists from the department accompany citizens through all stages of the criminal process, providing them with up-to-date information on the progress of the investigation and the rights they can exercise.

Special attention was paid to the issue of confidentiality and an individualized approach to each case. Larisa Kerimova-Bandyukova emphasized that the department’s work is not limited to legal aspects but also includes psychological counseling and the option to refer individuals to specialized professionals at the Survivor Relief Centre to receive comprehensive rehabilitation.

🖥 Meeting participants discussed a protocol for a coordinated response to requests from citizens in crisis situations. This format of cooperation will not only allow for the effective documentation of evidence but also prioritize the interests and well-being of the individual, ensuring they feel safe.

🖇 The Survivor Relief Centre in Dnipro was established on the initiative of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, with the support of the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, in partnership with UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine, thanks to financial support from the governments of Austria, Belgium, Spain, and Sweden, in cooperation with local authorities and the NGO “Association of Women Abmassadors of Ukraine.”