DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The article deals with the situation of domestic violence against women in Ukraine during the COVID‑19 pandem‑ ic. A comparison of various statistical and reporting materials of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, the National Police of Ukraine, courts, free legal aid centres, international organizations led to the conclusion that although in Ukraine there is intolerance of domestic violence against women in its various manifestations. This phenomenon is still often invisible and takes many different forms, stemming from the gender inequalities that women face throughout their lives, from childhood to old age. The main tasks and measures that are aimed at preventing and combating domestic violence against women are identified and an analysis of their implementation is analysed. Such measures include prevention of domestic violence by overcoming negative stereotypes in Ukrainian society, raising public awareness of the forms, manifestations, causes and consequences of domestic violence; responding to domestic violence by building a new violence response system to ensure coordination and ef‑ fective interaction of specially bodies authorized implementing measures to prevent and combat domestic violence, other bodies and institutions performing functions related to carrying out activities in the field of domestic violence prevention and counter‑ action to domestic violence; ensuring the availability and quality of providing necessary social services to victims of domestic vi‑ olence; proper investigation of the facts of domestic violence, bringing the perpetrators to justice and changing their behaviour. It is concluded that domestic violence against women is one of the most pressing problems of our time and that the ratifica‑ tion of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence remains important for Ukraine, the introduction of an information campaign against domestic violence against women to create a cul‑ ture of zero tolerance, raise awareness of the existence of various types of assistance for women victims of domestic violence (receiving legal assistance, psychological assistance, various social services, support and protection).