All-Ukrainian Seminar “The Role of Youth in Preventing Gender-Based Violence”

9.4.2025

Students of Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University participated in the All-Ukrainian Seminar “The Role of Youth in Preventing Gender-Based Violence”.

From April 1 to 4, 2025, Alona Kuznetsova, a 3rd-year student majoring in “Social Work” of LTSNU, participated in the All-Ukrainian Training and Practical Seminar for the National Coaching Network of the NGO “La Strada-Ukraine”. The topic of the event was the role of youth in preventing gender-based violence and developing social cohesion in the community.

For the third year, Alona has been actively collaborating as a trainer in the project “Prevention of Gender-Based Violence, Human Trafficking and Violation of Children’s Rights”, which is implemented with the support of the organization “Bread for the World”. Her activities are aimed at raising awareness of gender equality, preventing domestic violence and protecting children’s rights. This cooperation allows the student to participate in important social initiatives and influence the formation of a safe environment in communities.

The seminar covered a wide range of issues related to the prevention of gender-based violence. Participants considered different types of violence: physical, psychological, economic and sexual, analyzed the connection between gender stereotypes and discrimination, and studied the impact of social stereotypes on the violation of the rights of women, children and men. The practical part included case studies to identify signs of domestic violence, discussing algorithms for action in such cases, as well as the role of various actors in providing assistance to victims.

Separately, the amendments to the legislation on the prevention of bullying were considered, where participants were familiarized with changes in national legislation on combating violence and child abuse. Strategies for preventing and combating bullying among young people, especially in educational institutions, were discussed.

In addition, an important stage of the seminar was psycho-emotional relief classes to support the emotional health of participants, especially when working with people who have experienced violence. Working in groups allowed for in-depth discussion of the topics through case studies, facilitation, and effective negotiation.

The final stage of the seminar was a session on coaching skills, where participants improved their training skills. This will allow them to organize educational events for young people, helping to raise awareness about violence prevention and the development of social cohesion in communities.

Participation in the seminar was an important stage in Alona Kuznetsova’s professional development. The knowledge and practical skills she gained significantly strengthened her readiness to work in the field of social work. The trainer highly appreciated the quality of the seminar materials and their practical value for future activities.