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The Government of Japan support WHFP to protect Ukrainian women’s sexual and reproductive health

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Woman Health & Family Planning Foundation / WHFP, which is IPPF’s Member Association in Ukraine, continues to work towards improving access to quality medical services for people who have suffered from sexual and gender-based violence, as well as providing comprehensive sexual education to young people in Ukraine.

Funded by the Government of Japan and supported by the International Planned Parenthood Federation / IPPF, WHFP is implementing the project “Mitigate the Consequences of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Facilitate Access to Essential Services and CSE for Conflict-Affected People in Ukraine.”

During the war, women and girls are particularly vulnerable, facing an increased risk of sexual violence, unwanted pregnancy, exposure to sexually transmitted infections (including HIV), and pregnancy and childbirth complications. War exacerbates gender inequality, and women often face the impact of armed conflict. They face war crimes, including the use of sexual violence as a weapon, and the increase in domestic violence. Young people who are often forgotten are also greatly affected by war and vulnerable. The emotional and psychosocial impact on teenagers living in wartime is enormous. Due to population displacement, medical facilities in the project’s target regions are under heavy pressure and face a severe lack of medicines and supplies. 

The project will be implemented in Poltava and Odesa regions in cooperation with regional administrations, local NGOs, experts, and partners working in the field of SHRH.

As part of the project, WHFP:

  • will deliver medicines and supplies to prevent GBV consequences to the healthcare facilities, in particular, post-rape care kits, emergency and short and long-term contraception;
  • will train doctors to provide medical services to GBV survivors;
  • will train educators to implement comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) for young people;
  • will actively cooperate with young people in Odesa and Poltava regions through regional partners and communicate more about the CSE needs of young people.

The project will be implemented until the end of 2023 and will complement other WHFP activities in SHRH and GBV response.

WHFP and IPPF would like to thank the people of Japan for supporting this essential project.