Protection of rights begins with access to information and knowing what to do.

In times of war, the risks of violence, discrimination, and loss of access to essential services escalate significantly, especially for vulnerable groups. At the same time, many cases go unnoticed due to a lack of information: people either do not recognize that what they are experiencing is violence, or they do not know where and how to seek help.

This is precisely why preventive outreach at the community level has become critically important.

A training session titled “Organizing Information and Awareness-Raising Activities to Prevent and Combat Gender-Based Violence in Communities” was recently held in Chernihiv. Led by national expert Oksana Shliuser, the event gathered human rights advocates, patrol police officers, and representatives of the School Safety Police.

The training format was designed to equip participants to work directly with people—explaining, informing, and raising awareness.

Participants focused on:

• understanding the nature and manifestations of gender-based violence;
• analyzing myths and stereotypes that prevent individuals from seeking help;
• mastering tools for running information campaigns within communities;
• tailoring activity formats for diverse audiences;
• developing their own awareness-raising events.

Special emphasis was placed on practice—specifically, how to communicate with people about violence effectively and sensitively.

Specifically, participants practiced real-life communication scenarios: how to explain to someone that help is available, outline their options, and identify the services that can support them.

For instance, they analyzed common communication pitfalls. Instead of phrases like “Why didn’t you leave sooner?” or “You should have acted differently,” they learned to adopt a supportive approach, using statements such as: “What happened is not your fault,” “Help is available to you,” and “We will guide you through the next steps.”

They also modeled situations where professionals explain concrete, actionable steps: how to document an incident, where to turn within the community, what assistance is available, and what to expect next.

Trainings like this lay the groundwork for systemic change: transforming information into a tool for protection, and helping communities become more informed and resilient to the risks of violence.

We sincerely thank all the participants for their active engagement, hands-on work, and readiness to share this vital knowledge within their communities.