From November 6 to 8, 28 to 30, the High School and the National Social Service of Ukraine, together with the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service, with the support of the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine (UNFPA), organised a special short-term training programme for social specialists and local government officials. The programme ‘Organisation of mobile teams of social and psychological assistance to victims of domestic and/or gender-based violence’ is aimed at improving the quality of social services and ensuring the uninterrupted operation of specialised services.

The course aimed to improve the skills of professionals who provide support to victims. Social workers and representatives of local authorities gained practical skills to organise effective work of mobile teams capable of responding to cases of violence and ensuring the safety of victims.

During the three days of training, 22 participants gained knowledge on a number of key aspects, including understanding the scope of gender-based violence, its forms and consequences, international standards and national mechanisms for combating violence. Particular attention was paid to interagency cooperation at the local level and the organisation of effective work of mobile teams.

The course also included psycho-emotional training for working with victims, the basics of social counselling, and methods of preventing professional burnout to help maintain the resilience of professionals. Through this training course, social workers acquired important skills to effectively prevent violence and provide support to victims.

Representatives from Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa and Cherkasy regions took part in the training, which underscores the importance of regional support in the fight against violence. The knowledge gained will help professionals to better respond to challenges and effectively provide safety and support to victims in their communities, strengthening overall national resilience.