Countering gender-based violence: how youth can change society

On October 10-11, 2024, a two-day training “School of a Young Activist to Combat Gender-Based Violence” was held in Chernihiv, attended by students and teachers from various communities of the Chernihiv region.

Today, in the modern world, where new information technologies and social networks have become part of our lives, the problem of gender-based violence (GBV) remains one of the most widespread and acute. Combating this dangerous phenomenon requires a special comprehensive approach involving young people in active educational activities.

Modern youth is an integral part of changes in society. Its involvement in combating GBV not only increases awareness and knowledge in this area, but also forms a new generation of activists who are ready to fight for justice.

That is why the main goal of this training is to form conscious, responsible and active youth who are able to resist manifestations of GBV.

The School’s experts were leading Ukrainian specialists:

Oksana Shlyusar

, Development Director of TMZHK “Vidrodzhennia natsii”, Senior Consultant of the National Hotline for Combating Human Trafficking and Counseling of Migrants, and

Maryna Pasechnyk

, Coordinator of the National Free Hotline for Combating Human Trafficking and Counseling of Migrants.

The trained trainers will then join the National Campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” and will be able to conduct peer-to-peer mini-trainings in their institutions to raise the issue of violence and draw attention to the need to seek help.

The “School of a Young Activist to Combat Gender-Based Violence” is an important step towards creating a new conscious generation, thanks to which we can hope for positive changes in society and a reduction in the incidence of various forms of violence.

The event was organized by the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights with the support of the CLEAR Program, which is implemented by the international organization Global Communities and funded by the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance of the United States Agency for International Development.