16 Days Campaign in Dnipro Highlights the Urgency of Keeping Children Safe in Wartime
December 02, 2025
At a time when war places exceptional pressure on families and communities, ensuring that every child is protected from violence has never been more urgent. As Ukraine marks the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, safeguarding children’s rights has become one of the most pressing responsibilities for institutions on the ground. Behind every statistic stands a child who needs safety, support and a system that reacts quickly and fairly.
Against this backdrop, the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office convened a meeting of the Interagency Working Group on child protection and domestic violence last week in Dnipro. The discussion brought together Ukrainian authorities, civil society actors and international partners to assess the current situation and identify practical steps to strengthen protection systems. The Mission was represented by the Head of the Mobile Unit, Johan Chytraeus, alongside experts from the regional Ombudsperson’s Office, the National Police, the regional military administration, UNFPA, UNICEF and human rights organisations Martyn-Club and Common Benefit.
“The law must be unwavering in protecting the youngest members of society. A child should not be left alone to face the harsh realities of modern life,” stressed Regional Prosecutor Yurii Papusha, who chaired the meeting.
While the Dnipropetrovsk region has seen a decline in juvenile crime this year, participants noted a worrying rise in suicide cases among teenagers. This shift, they agreed, reflects the deeper psychological strain young people face during the war and highlights the need for coordinated, specialised support that reaches children before a crisis escalates.
“That is why we have developed a special multimedia questionnaire for schoolchildren, which will help to identify the precursors of suicidal behaviour or other crisis situations in children in a timely manner and respond quickly to such cases,” said Yurii Papusha.
The meeting also examined gaps in the response to domestic violence and how they affect children who witness or experience abuse. Speakers from civil society underlined the importance of stronger support at the community level and acknowledged the work of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
For EUAM Ukraine, the discussion echoed the Mission’s wider support to improve child-friendly justice and strengthen institutional responses to domestic and gender-based violence. In Dnipro, EUAM experts shared European approaches that have proven effective in helping authorities detect risks earlier, ensure smoother cooperation between services and provide tailored support for each child.
“Children need systems that are able to react early, share information and intervene before harm occurs. The challenges may be growing during the war, but so is the capacity of Ukrainian institutions to respond. Our role is to support this progress and help partners develop approaches that work in practice,” said Johan Chytraeus.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continue close cooperation and to move forward with joint initiatives that will strengthen prevention, improve inter-agency coordination and ensure better protection of children throughout criminal proceedings. As the 16 Days campaign continues and for Ukraine it continues under the pressures of war, protecting children from violence remains one of the clearest measures of institutional resilience and a shared priority for national and international partners alike.
