The human rights organization “The Shield” joined the 1325 Donetsk Region Coalition in 2021 to strengthen women’s rights, improve community security and support people from vulnerable groups. Working with the Coalition has enabled the team to implement gender-sensitive approaches and solutions that are truly life-changing.
Before the full-scale invasion, the organization developed local communities, protected patients’ rights and provided legal advice. After 2022, the Shield refocused on assisting war victims, developing women’s leadership and combating gender-based violence.
As part of the implementation of the regional action plan for Resolution 1325, the team is developing a gender-sensitive system for identifying, preventing and responding to security risks. The organization teaches women and girls to recognize threats, act in crisis situations, and know their rights. For the communities of Donetsk region, monuments with algorithms of actions during hostilities, mine or digital danger are created, adapted to the needs of women, men, children, and people with disabilities.
A vivid example is the project “Informing IDPs from Donetsk region about mine danger in communities of Dnipropetrovsk region”, implemented jointly with the Ukrainian Women’s Fund. Thanks to it, hundreds of people received knowledge on safe behavior, and the network of women’s organizations strengthened its security direction.
In addition to information work, “Shield” is engaged in security advocacy. Together with the Coalition 1325 Kyiv region team conducts security audits, develops local action plans, and implements risk response standards.
Today, the Shield operates in several regions – Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Mykolaiv and Lviv regions – and continues to scale its activities, strengthening communities where every woman can feel protected. #1325StrengthensCountry