Kyiv region opens specialised recovery centre for children affected by war and violence

The PANDA Child Protection, Advocacy and Recovery Centre has opened in the Kyiv Region (Oblast), the Ministry of Social Policy’s press service reported. The facility will provide support to children who have returned from the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) and those who have suffered from Russian occupation, war crimes, violence or difficult life circumstances.

Photo credit: Ministry of Social Policy

Children can receive temporary shelter at the centre, which is equipped with 30 beds. The facility can accommodate up to 500 children per year. The PANDA programme also includes foster care, providing temporary accommodation and child care in a family environment.

Children who have suffered from or witnessed violence will be interviewed in the protection department using the Barnahus modelі . Specifically, interviews will be conducted in a safe, child-friendly environment with a psychologist present. This helps reduce the risk of re-traumatisation. Children will also be able to receive psychological, social and legal assistance, as well as medical aid if needed. The implementation of child-friendly justice is part of Ukraine’s European integration commitments.

The centre plans to provide counselling and long-term psychological support for children and their families. Cooperation with experts from the US, Canada and European countries is envisaged, along with the exchange of experience with other Ukrainian centres. Training sessions will also be held for representatives of children’s services, police, prosecutors, courts and educators from local hromadas.

Earlier, ZMINA reported that there are plans to create a department in Zaporizhzhia for the protection and support of children who have suffered from or witnessed violence during the justice process. This Barnahus model space will be set up in a shelter for the first time.

ZMINA earlier also reported that on 19 December 2024, Law No. 4073-IX came into force, regulating the activities of specialised centres assisting children who have suffered from or witnessed violence. One of the document’s innovations was the inclusion of Barnahus centres in the list of support services for victims of domestic and gender-based violence.

Details on the operation of the Barnahus model centre in Kyiv can be read in a ZMINA article in Ukrainian.

Follow ZMINA on X, BlueSky and LinkedIn for daily human rights coverage from Ukraine – we invite you to share your feedback on what you’d like to see more of in our survey here.