The purpose of this project is to:
- raise awareness of the sign language audience with hearing impairments about CRSV and the available ways to get help for survivors.
- facilitate the provision of high quality assistance to survivors of CRSV among the community of sign language Ukrainians.
- encourage potential survivors of CRSV among sign language Ukrainians to be proactive in obtaining the necessary assistance in case of CRSV.
The beneficiaries of the project are: people with hearing impairments who use Ukrainian sign language to communicate, who were in the combat zone and could potentially suffer from CRSV.
Sexual violence committed against civilians or combatants in the context of armed conflict is a phenomenon that is recognised as a serious human rights violation and war crime. According to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, as of April 25, 2024, 290 cases of CRSV have been recorded.
Potential survivors of CRSV among people with hearing impairments may have barriers due to physical and mental trauma, and may not have access to information on how to receive comprehensive assistance in overcoming the consequences of their experiences. Therefore, the project includes the adaptation of materials on CRSV and their dissemination in a format with translation into Ukrainian sign language.
Awareness of the algorithm of actions for applying for medical, psychological, legal and socio-economic support among sign-language Ukrainians will help identify more sufferers and speed up their reintegration into society.
In this way, the project aims to create an environment where sign-language Ukrainians have full access to information, quality assistance and are able to protect their rights in the context of CRSV.
