Global News | Nov 22, 2022

Avon announces $160,000 to support gender-based violence survivors in Ukraine

As the devastating war in Ukraine continues, we’re proud to announce that the Avon Foundation is donating $160,000 to UNFPA in Ukraine, to support survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).

Volodymir Nefedov, Commercial Head Ukraine and Georgia, said: “I’m proud of our longstanding commitment to speak out against gender-based violence and standing with survivors. As the tragic war in Ukraine continues, and reports increasingly emerge around sexual violence in war, this grant to UNFPA will provide vital resources and support for survivors of GBV. Our message to all of those experiencing GBV is: you’re not alone. Help is available.”

The grant will support the Day Counselling Centres project, which aims to improve access to services for GBV survivors and those at risk of GBV by establishing four Day Counselling Centres, which will provide GBV survivors with specialised psychological assistance, social support and legal counselling. Specialists working at the centre can facilitate peer-support groups, conduct training sessions, and art therapy classes.

Overall, Day Counselling Centres will target around 1,000 beneficiaries over the course of one year due to our support.

“The Day Counselling Centres are a place where survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) can get the necessary assistance to break the circle of violence”, said Jaime Nadal, UNFPA Representative in Ukraine. “This is a key component of a larger referral system that provides comprehensive support to survivors of GBV, which we at UNFPA have built in Ukraine for several years. We are extremely grateful to our long-term partner Avon for their contribution to the elimination of gender-based violence in Ukraine, and I hope it will encourage other private sector companies to join us in this cause, for the future of Ukrainian women and girls.”

Together with our customers and five million Reps globally, we’ve donated over $1.1 billion to causes that matter most to women over many decades. In 2021 alone, our donations to NGOs helped at least 271,000 survivors of gender-based violence and to date we’ve contributed more than $88 million globally to support awareness and education on gender-based violence and supporting survivors.

For more information on Avon’s 15+ year commitment to ending gender-based violence, visit www.avonworldwide.com/supporting-women/violence-against-women-and-girls .