Deputy Attorney General Maria Vdovichenko emphasized the need for the full implementation of European standards for victim protection in Ukraine during the conference "Justice Oriented Towards Victims of Gender-Based Violence."

“Eurointegration has ceased to be a political declaration — today it is the everyday work of every investigator, prosecutor, and judge. Justice must be people-centered,” she stressed.

Maria Vdovichenko highlighted the requirements of EU Directives regarding the rights of victims, which establish minimum but mandatory standards: accessibility of information about rights, proper support, protection from re-traumatization, and the opportunity to provide testimony in safe conditions.

“This is not about formal procedures. Every victim must receive a clear, understandable explanation of their rights and the opportunity to speak without fear and the risk of re-experiencing trauma,” noted the Deputy Attorney General.

She emphasized that a victim-oriented approach must become the sole standard of operation for all law enforcement agencies. This is not only about fulfilling eurointegration obligations but also the key to building public trust in justice, especially in cases of gender-based violence.

The conference was organized by the Association of Women Lawyers of Ukraine “JurFem” in partnership with the Office of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Police of Ukraine, with the support of the Embassy of Finland in Ukraine, as well as the “Kvinna till Kvinna” foundation.