The main objectives of the project:

To ensure the protection of women’s rights in Lviv region and rural areas of Lviv region through the provision of legal aid to victims of violence and discrimination
To improve the protection of women’s rights in court through the development of strategic litigation, promoting the application of international human rights mechanisms in judicial practice.
To conduct research and analyze the main problems regarding access to justice and the protection of women from violence through case analysis and interviews with victims.
During 2012-2016, the following activities were carried out to achieve the project’s objectives:

Legal consultations for women victims of violence and discrimination in Lviv region – 127 field consultation sessions in the cities of Lviv region. Total number of consultations – 1661. Total number of documents drawn up – 492. Clients from rural areas who received consultations at their place of residence continued to receive advisory assistance by phone and in the organization’s office in Lviv. Over 1,800 consultations were conducted by phone and 738 in-person consultations.
The manual “Domestic Violence: Ways to Solve the Problem”, booklets “Domestic Violence – Where to Turn?”, “Domestic Violence – Safety for the Child” were developed, published and distributed.
99 court cases initiated and supported by the organization’s lawyers, representation in court in 329 court hearings.
22 training programs for law enforcement officers, courts and civil servants, total number of participants 267 people, 18 training programs for law students, total number of participants 213 people.
The cases of 198 clients of the Western Ukrainian Center “Women’s Perspectives” who sought help from the organization in cases of domestic violence were interviewed and analyzed. The study included an analysis of the social portrait of victims and perpetrators; main aspects of domestic violence, such as duration, frequency and forms of violence; victims’ appeals for help and response of state bodies to appeals by victims of domestic violence. In addition, a comparative analysis of the results of this survey was conducted with the results of a similar study conducted in 2006-2007.
A survey of judges was conducted on the application of international human rights mechanisms in cases related to domestic violence.
As in the previous study in 2007, a small number of respondents – 9.5% and 6.9% in 2007, respectively – reported that they apply the norms of international law in cases related to domestic violence. Among judges appointed for an indefinite period, the number of positive responses is more than 2 times higher – 11.5% compared to 4.8%.

A remote survey of clients of the NGO “Women’s Perspectives Center” who received assistance in drafting procedural documents in civil cases in 2014-2015 was conducted through a written questionnaire. All respondents received legal assistance from the organization’s lawyers in cases directly or indirectly related to domestic violence. Responses to 89 questionnaires were analyzed.

The most common problem encountered by respondents is lengthy court proceedings and delay in the consideration of the case – 39% of respondents. 15% of respondents reported attempts by the judge to reconcile with the other party, 12% of respondents reported accusations of provocation of violence by the judge, and 37% of respondents reported other obstacles.