She also visited the Survivor Relief Center in Kyiv, which is part of a network of centers operating in 12 cities across Ukraine, offering essential psychosocial and legal support to those in need, particularly survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
During her discussions with the President and First Lady, The Duchess emphasized the importance of providing sustained support to survivors and the crucial role women peacebuilders play in Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction efforts.
Her Royal Highness had declared her dedication to advocating for the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) and the UN’s Women, Peace, and Security Agenda (WPS) on International Women’s Day in 2019.
Over the years, she has visited various countries, including Kosovo, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Colombia, to raise awareness about the impact of past and ongoing conflicts, and has listened to the stories of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
Speaking at the CRSV Conference recently, The Duchess underlined the need to support survivors in seeking justice and comprehensive redress, ensuring that such crimes are not normalized in conflict situations.
She emphasized that the rights and voices of survivors should be central to all efforts to eradicate conflict-related sexual violence.
Moreover, Her Royal Highness paid tribute to the victims of the Bucha tragedy, marking the two-year anniversary of the town's liberation from Russian forces.
She visited the 'Road to Life', a bridge with historical significance in the Ukrainian resistance, and later served as a vital escape route for people fleeing the Russian occupation.
During her time in Ukraine, The Duchess met with Ukrainian women who played significant roles in the conflict and community recovery efforts, acknowledging the contributions of volunteers who assist their communities in coping with the aftermath of attacks through mental health support for children.
For more information on The Duchess's advocacy work related to conflict-related sexual violence, please visit the official channels.