Today, sexual violence is a cruel weapon used by the occupiers in the occupied territories. It is a difficult and traumatic experience not only for the individual victim, but also for the entire nation, as it shatters the foundations, destroys the faith in universal values, and makes them feel despair and hopelessness.
In Ukraine, the General Prosecutor's Office recorded 322 cases of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) as of October 2024. But the real number may be even more shocking. According to Kateryna Levchenko, the government's commissioner for gender policy, for every case of CRSV that is identified, there are at least a dozen more that go unreported due to too much trauma, fear of judgment, not knowing where to turn for help, and lack of guarantees that perpetrators will be punished.
How to help a woman affected by CRSV
Sexual crimes leave deep wounds not only in the body but also in the soul. Women who have experienced sexual violence often feel deep shame, guilt, fear, and isolation from society. They lose a basic sense of trust in themselves and the world.
To restore these women's inner strength, belief in themselves and thirst for life. This can only be done with the help of qualified psychotherapists who know how to work with trauma. Specialists from the Future for Ukraine Foundation's GIDNA project provide anonymous and free psychological support to women who have experienced or witnessed conflict-related sexual violence.
The curator of the project, Anna Hrubaia, says that it is quite difficult to go through such an experience alone because the psyche is not capable of dealing with the consequences of violence on its own. That's why effective therapies such as EMDR are key to recovery, helping to release painful memories and restore a woman's strength.
"One of the methods I use to help women who have suffered from war and sexual violence is EMDR, a specialized therapy that combines effective elements of various therapeutic approaches and helps the brain process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional impact," says Natalia Molochynska, a psychologist at GIDNA.
What is an EMDR protocol, and how does it work
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy method developed by Francine Shapiro in 1987 that helps process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional impact. Since then, it has been widely used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other consequences of traumatic events.
The EMDR protocol is based on stimulating the brain with a bilateral stimulus (eye movements, sound, or tactile signals). This helps the brain to process traumatic experiences that have been "blocked" in the nervous system. During the session, the therapist asks the client to recall the traumatic event while making a series of eye movements. As this work progresses, the negative emotions gradually diminish, and the memory becomes less painful.
EMDR is used to treat PTSD, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, depression, phobias, traumatic experiences (accidents, disasters), and the effects of violence, including sexual violence. GIDNA project psychologists confirm that the EMDR protocol has become the most effective method of working with women who have experienced conflict-related sexual violence.
EMDR allows the brain to "rewrite" traumatic experiences so that they no longer trigger stress reactions. As a result, anxiety and fear are reduced, a sense of safety is restored, self-esteem is improved, and emotional stability is restored.
How EMDR helps victims of violence
Today, EMDR is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychological Association (APA) as an effective method of PTSD therapy and is actively used in work with victims of violence, war veterans, and bereaved families. In their daily work with women who have suffered sexual violence at the hands of the occupying forces, GIDNA psychologists confirm its effectiveness and note significant changes in therapy after using the protocol.
"As a curator and psychologist in the GIDNA project, I use a trauma-focused approach in my work with women who have experienced sexual violence during the war. Given a woman's condition, it is important to determine the specific set of interventions to be used in therapy. It can be a cognitive processing protocol or an EMDR protocol, sometimes it is necessary to stabilize a woman with the ISP protocol when her state is critical," Anna Hrubaia, GIDNA curator.
The EMDR protocol is a powerful psychological technique that shows a woman who has experienced CRSV the path to recovery and eases the emotional burden of the experience. One of the most important effects of this therapy is the reduction of guilt and shame as a woman stops blaming herself and finally names the real perpetrator.
"I felt very guilty about what had happened, and it would not let me rest. It seemed as if I had lost a part of myself. Gradually, I realized that this guilt was not my fault, and I began to accept myself as I am. We worked on making me feel joy in small things again and allowing me to dream about the future," said a GIDNA project participant about the therapy results.
It is crucial for a woman who has experienced sexual violence to regain a sense of control over her own life and the ability to see the future and its possibilities. EMDR therapy restores calm and inner strength while helping to reduce flashbacks and nightmares.
Sexual violence is a difficult experience that can leave deep wounds, but healing is possible! If you or a loved one has experienced conflict-related sexual violence, please reach out for help. You are not alone in this journey, and healing is possible. You can get help by filling out the form.
