EUAM FO Lviv joined the global campaign ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’
December 09, 2025
Gender-based violence is often invisible: hidden, unspoken. It brings up feelings of shame and guilt and destroys trust, relationships, families, and even lives. This year, EUAM Field Office Lviv joined the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. EUAM Advisors and Experts together with Patrol Police officers, met with schools and universities to discuss how young people can contribute to countering violence at their level and learn to better recognize different forms of gender-based violence and domestic violence.
“It is important to engage youth as they are driving force of the new generation’s mentality shift towards human rights and zero tolerance to gender-based violence,” said Dirk Molleman, EUAM FO Lviv Senior Advisor on General Policing.
The key outcomes were clear: staying silent or ignorant about gender-based violence and domestic violence only allows the problem to grow. If you witness or experience violence, it is essential to ask for help, reach out to a trusted adult, inform a teacher, call a hotline or report to the police. When young people know where to turn and feel supported, a circle of trust emerges, where the survivors of gender-based violence and domestic violence are not left alone.
A similar message echoed within professional circles of law-enforcers, local and regional authorities, defense lawyers, and civil society activists who gathered for a discussion in the Lviv Regional Military Administration to explore ways to enhance their coordination and cooperation in GBV cases. At the round table facilitated by the Representative of the Ombudsman in the Lviv Region and the EUAM FO Lviv, participants emphasized that even a small gap in procedures or communication can result in witnesses or survivors not receiving timely assistance, being left at risk, or even being shamed for reporting GBV.
“Domestic violence is not statistics and not a ‘topic for events’. It is a governance challenge, where the outcome should be a protected person, not a completed report. Without coordinated efforts from state institutions, civil society and international partners, there will be no real impact,” said Taras Podvirnyi, Representative of the Ombudsman in the Lviv region.
The roundtable demonstrated a strong shared commitment to tackle GBV. The discussions highlighted systemic challenges such as under-reporting, insufficient evidence collection, lack of perpetrator programmes, and child protection gaps, among others.
“This roundtable took place during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence – a global campaign that serves as a reminder of a shared responsibility to address violence in all its forms. Our strength lies in partnership, where each agency contributes essential expertise, and together continue to advance a system that strengthen prevention and promotes dignity and safety for all survivors of gender-based violence”, said Gorica Balta, EUAM Gender Advisor.
Participants agreed that effective prevention and response is only possible through strengthened interagency cooperation, enhanced referral pathways and strengthened survivor-centered approaches, harmonised procedures, continuous training, increased raised awareness and reinforced dialogue with local communities.
