On 21 March, a Launch meeting was held for the COIL project Sexual and gender-based violence during conflict: understanding those crimes and how gender biases negatively impact their investigation and prosecution, which is being implemented for the second year in a row by the Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS) and Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University.
During the course, students will work together to solve a real-life (anonymous) case study from the current conflict between Ukraine and Russia related to sexual and gender-based violence, which will allow them to deepen their understanding of human rights and their protection (or lack thereof) during armed conflict, the role of gender bias and stigma in the context of gender-based violence in conflict, and the impact on the investigation and prosecution of sexual and gender-based crimes.
In addition, the project will aim to disseminate knowledge about Ukraine and Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, build intercultural competencies of students of both educational institutions, improve language skills, develop individual and teamwork skills, solve cases, etc.
We are sincerely grateful to our partners – the Hague University of Applied Sciences and personally to LecturerChristine Tremblay for the opportunity for Ukrainian students to join the implementation of an important and relevant project in view of the ongoing war in Ukraine.