LvSUIA held a smart meeting "Let's combat violence together"

The event took place in the format of a blitz conference. It was held as part of the global action "16 days against violence" and to implement the Comprehensive Preventive Program Against Human Trafficking.

The smart meeting was attended by students of 11 universities of Lviv, such as future lawyers, police officers, military personnel, rescuers, doctors and theologians.

The expert circle included representatives of the public organization "Women's Prospects Center", the Department of Social Protection of the Population of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, the Migration Police Department and the Juvenile Prevention Department of the MDNP in Lviv Region, the patrol police in Lviv Region, as well as research and pedagogical staff of Lviv State University of Internal Affairs, the Ukrainian Institute of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy and Psychological Counseling, Lviv Theological Seminary of the Holy Spirit (UGCC) and Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University.

The event was moderated by Olha Balynska, Vice-Rector of LvSUIA.

"It is extremely important that now Ukrainians are ready to talk about violence and look for ways to counter this shameful phenomenon. So today we have invited representatives of many Lviv universities and experts to discuss this topic and share their experiences. I wish all the participants a fruitful discussion!", Olha Balynska said.

Liubov Maksymovych, Head of the NGO "Center Women's Perspectives", addressed the audience with an opening speech. She spoke about cases of rescue of injured persons and compared violence to an epidemic.

It should be noted that at the beginning of the event, the participants also honored the memory of the victims of violence with a moment of silence.

The format of the event envisaged students' questions and experts answers. In the course of the discussion, the participants of the meeting discussed with the winners the urgent issues of creating a safe environment, accessibility and inclusiveness of education.

The issues of responsibility for committing domestic and gender-based violence, ways of helping victims and perpetrators were discussed. Specialists emphasized, in particular, that communication of the latter with psychologists and representatives of the clergy is an important aspect of moral correction.

The participants learned that countering violence is based on four components: preventive measures, anti-violence policy, assistance to the victims, and punishment for the offenders.

The discussion participants also discussed the causes of violence and social stereotypes that encourage illegal acts, harassment and aggression. In addition, the students were told about the "social relay phenomenon". It means that children who observe the act of domestic or any other violence may repeat such actions in adulthood, considering them a norm.

At the end of the smart meeting, young men and women asked experts about combating human trafficking during the war.