Roma women from the families of military personnel, veterans, fallen Defenders, prisoners and missing persons often face not only the pain of loss or constant anxiety for their relatives. Their path is complicated by numerous bureaucratic obstacles, but even more so by fear, a sense of helplessness and lack of access to information.
⠀Many of them do not know their rights, are afraid to seek help, do not know how to clearly formulate their request. And even if they do, they often encounter stigmatization, indifference or discrimination. And what is even more painful is that some of the women cannot read and write, which almost completely makes it impossible to independently solve vital issues.
⠀That is why, within the framework of the project, we have provided for the individual work of a lawyer and a social worker.
⠀ The lawyer helps each family clearly identify the problem, advises where to go to obtain the necessary documents, and prepares all applications and statements.
⠀ A social worker accompanies women during visits to state institutions – often this support is the key to getting the case moving.
⠀ Most often, we help restore the certificate of a combat participant, apply for compensation for injuries or state assistance that was unavailable without documents.
⠀ And in each such story – it is not just a procedure. There is pain, loss, years of silence, and very often – the first attempt to declare: I have the right.
⠀- We are grateful for the opportunity to be there at these moments.
We are very grateful to the Ukrainian Women’s Fund for making this support possible.
⠀ This legal and social support within the project was made possible thanks to the support of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands within the framework of the project “Women, Peace, Security: Local Needs – Local Solutions”, which is implemented by the Ukrainian Women’s Fund.
⠀The information presented in the material does not always reflect the views of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.