“Most of the women we supported have ended their abusive relationships and have become f inancially independent.” Monika Milewska, Poland and Ukraine Aid Programmes Coordinator.
When Tetiana Sus fled Ukraine with her two young daughters in early 2022 due to Russia’s invasion, she had just started her own practice as a clinical psychologist. Over a year later, her family is among the 1 million Ukrainian refugees living in Poland, most of whom are women and children. Tetiana found work at Fòs Feminista partner Feminoteka, where she managed a hotline that offers support in Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian for women who are survivors of sexual and genderbased violence.
The Ukrainian women Feminoteka reaches have escaped not only war, but also abusive relationships, and as refugees, they continue to face disproportionate risks of violence while rebuilding their lives. Moreover, they encounter a restricted legal environment in Poland, which means they are forced to navigate new legal and cost barriers, lack of information, and poor quality of abortion and contraceptive care. Through Feminoteka, they receive psychological, legal, financial, and housing support, as well as access to self-defense and yoga workshops for dealing with trauma.
