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USAID/Ukraine’s “New Pages of Ukrainian Heroism” campaign tells the stories of women who are making history, working behind the frontlines to support Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction. Follow the campaign @USAIDUkraine on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
 
Hrystyna Kit has dedicated her life to protecting the rights of Ukrainian women. A lawyer by profession, Hrystyna started working to protect women from domestic violence during her student days. Now, she heads the Ukrainian Women Lawyers Association, known as JurFem, a USAID-supported organization protecting the rights of women. 
 
Hrystyna was at home on February 24, 2022, when JurFem's chat system began to boil over with messages. How could the organization help people amid the full-scale invasion?

“There was a lot of work for [us] lawyers, people had a lot of questions,” Hrystyna recalls. "How to obtain certain statuses, how to cross the border, what documents are needed? We tried to respond quickly to everyone’s questions.”

JurFem was ready. As Hrystyna explains:

“Before the war, we worked on the issue of sexual violence against women. We did not stop after February 24. We continue to work closely with the government to develop legislation together. We train professionals – lawyers, judges, prosecutors – on how to investigate these crimes and how to work with victims. Our lawyers provide assistance to survivors of sexual violence, including violence done by Russia’s military."

JurFem has 12 full-time employees and 30 more lawyer consultants in communities across Ukraine, among them 20 experts in the field of gender equality. Hrystyna and JurFem are trying to further expand the team as Ukraine’s needs continue to grow. 
 
Russia’s full-scale war has put additional burdens on Ukraine’s women, even as they face greater safety and security risks. Women are required to work harder to support Ukraine's economy. They also need to provide for their families, with many men and women on the front lines. 

"We are doing everything we can to make Ukrainian women and girls feel safe in our country," says Hrystyna,

"Safe to be in public places, safe to live at home, safe to work. Without any harassment, sexism, or prejudice."

Women's rights is one of many areas where the United States supports Ukraine.

“We have been cooperating with USAID for several years now," says Hrystyna. "And as for JurFem, since the establishment of the organization. Together with USAID, we organized a legal forum that brings together women-lawyers from all over the country. The forum helps generate ideas for legislative changes. We are currently finalizing with USAID a large analytical report called The Gender Dimension of War. It aims to show the gender aspect of crimes committed by the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine. It is a lot of work." 

Hrystyna does not believe that crisis situations cause people to change their values:

"My values, like those of our team, have not changed. On the contrary, they serve as the foundation that helped us to survive the first days of the war and continue our work."

Her most closely-held value is commitment to her country and its people:

"Ukraine is my home. Where I lived, live, and will live. And as for everyone for whom their home is important, I protect Ukraine with every opportunity and in every way I can.”

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