Ukrainian Women: Targets of Organised Sexual Crimes
Sexual violence in Ukraine has long been hidden by taboo, but survivors are now coming forward. In the film Traces, several Ukrainian women who endured abuse by Russian forces speak out together, helping to document the scale and systematic nature of these crimes. At the same time, peace negotiations risk undermining accountability, as proposals for broad amnesties for Russian forces accused of crimes in Ukraine become part of the talks. How can international recognition be secured, and how can survivors be guaranteed access to justice and reparations?
Nathalie Fontanet
State Councilor, Department of Finance and Human Ressources (DF)
Alisa Kovalenko
Director of Traces
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Iryna Dovgan
Protagonist of Traces and founder of SEMA Ukraine
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Eugenia Andreyuk
Lawyer, Co-Head of OMCT-Europe
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The discussion is interpreted in English and French
Traces
From 2014 to 2023, six Ukrainian women, survivors of sexual violence and torture committed by the Russian aggressor, recount their experiences. Traces portrays their trauma, their resilience and the solidarity that binds them together, while documenting the war crimes they endured. Through their testimonies, the film transforms the account of their suffering into an act of resistance and a tool for justice, contributing to the construction of a collective memory.
⚠︎ This film contains disturbing narratives that may be sensitive to some viewers.
Marysia Nikitiuk
Message Film
Alisa Kovalenko
Milenia Fiedler
Maciej Amilkiewicz
