The Ministry of Internal Affairs plans to increase the number of special groups documenting sex crimes, - Kateryna Pavlichenko
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Kateryna Pavlichenko reported this in her interview for Ukrinform.
Special teams documenting sex crimes from April 18 work in Kyiv region, from May 10 - in Sumy region, from May 31 - in Chernihiv region.
“There are plans to launch similar groups in other territories that will be liberated from the Russians. At the moment we are considering the Nikolaev area, possibly also Kharkiv region”, - the deputy minister noted.
Ekaterina Pavlichenko said that the main goal of these groups is the detection, documentation of sexual crimes in the de-occupied territories and, most importantly, informing the victims about the possibility of receiving comprehensive assistance.
In de-occupied territories, groups communicate with the civilian population and thus detect sexual crimes. They were created from among police officers who had previously worked with domestic violence, they have certain skills in communicating with victims, and with children as well. They include, in particular, juvenile police officers, investigators, patrolmen and, of course, psychologists, because a psychologist in such communication can lead the conversation in the right direction.
Also, the deputy minister said that the police often receive information about the commission of sexual crimes in the territories that are currently occupied by the Russians.
“All these cases are recorded. At the same time, we understand that if there was access to these territories and it was possible to conduct investigative and operational actions, examinations, interview victims and witnesses, then the evidence base would be larger. But such crimes do not have a statute of limitations. All these crimes should have no place at all in our lives in the 21st century and in a democratic society. And regardless of when they are discovered, they will be recorded and will be investigated,” Ekaterina Pavlichenko stressed.
Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
