In 2006, the organization started working in Ukraine with the support of the Government of Sweden and Convictus-Sweden.
In 2008, Convictus Ukraine launched HIV prevention programs for the most at-risk populations of Kyiv, having launched theConvictus Community Centre where persons most-at-risk to HIV could receive anonymous and free counselling and advice, personal protective equipment, and individual problem-solving assistance. The Organization also started outreach and street work among drug users and sex workers aimed to prevent HIV and STI spread.
Since2009, Convictus Ukraine expanded its reach to small towns and villages of the Kyiv oblastfocusing on HIV prevention and support.
In 2010, the unique Halfway Houseinitiative was established within the financial support of the Government of Sweden. It became the first facility in Ukraine offering social adaptation of women released from prisons. In 2017, the Halfway House was transferred to the Kharkiv Oblast, and its program formed a foundation for the national practices of work with persons who are being released from prisons.
In 2013–2016, Convictus Ukraine significantly expanded the geography of its work, focusing its programs and projects on reducing new cases of HIV and other socially dangerous diseases (STIs, TB, hepatitis) among the most most-at-risk groups.
In 2014, Convictus Ukraine received a mobile outpatient clinic equipped with everything necessary for testing and medical examination. With the introduction of this option, it has become possible to bring diagnostic services closer to those who need them.
In 2016, Convictus Ukraine significantly expanded its activities, focusing on combating domestic and gender-based violence, assistance to displaced women, and opened a Center for Psychosocial Assistance for Women Victims of Violence in Brovary, Kyiv oblast. And in 2019, together with active deputies of the Vasylkiv District Council, the first municipal institution (with district funding) was established – a shelter for women and children affected by violence. In the same year, active work began on building intersectoral cooperation for a comprehensive response to violence in the Kyiv oblast. From 2021, the shelter will be financed from the budget of the united territorial community.
Our Organization pioneered in changing the regulations of (typical) shelters. Thanks to us, 8 institutions across the country have changed their rules and opened their doors to women marginalized by society.
Another unique institution, created by Convictus Ukraine in 2016, is the STREET POWER Youth Club (Kyiv) – an interesting and safe place where most-at-risk teenagers can spend their leisure time productively, as well as use preventive services.
Since 2017, the Organization has been active in ensuring the sustainability of HIV services.
Participation in the creation and deployment of the Stop TB Ukraine Partnershipwas an important area of the Organization’s work, which became a member of the Global Partnership (STOP TB Partnership). Convictus Ukraine continues active participation in it.
Since 2018, our country has been implementing the Transition Plan, according to which the Government of Ukraine provides a transition from funding for TB and HIV / AIDS programs by the Global Fund to ensure the implementation of these programs with the state budget funding and public administration of these programs. In mid-2019, an active phase of this process began – the state procured a basic package of HIV prevention services and services for the care and support of people living with HIV. For Ukraine, this is an unprecedented success in ensuring the sustainability of HIV/AIDS programs, a demonstration of the state’s readiness to invest in maintaining of the results achieved during international assistance. At the same time, for non-governmental organizations that have been implementing prevention programs on the ground for years, and for Convictus Ukraine, this has become a time of new challenges.
By 2020, the organization, which initially consisted of 4 volunteers, had grown to 110 employees. It has covered 11 regions of our country, providing assistance to128,500 people over the past 13 years. The programs to combat HIV /AIDS, tuberculosis and hepatitis of our Organization remain concentrated in Kyiv and Kyiv oblastand are expanding, forming a comprehensive approach from prevention to support in treatment. In total, in 2020, our Organization provided assistance to 42,518 people.
In 2020, Ukraine and the whole world faced the global challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ukrainian health care system went on a stress test, and the continuity of services for the prevention, treatment of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis has become important. Quarantine restrictions have completely reformatted lifestyles and communication models. Our Organization was forced to react quickly, to make decisions on models of providing services to most-at-risk populationsin order to prevent their interruption. We managed to ensure the full operation of programs for prevention and access to HIV treatment for most-at-risk populations in Kyiv oblast. The implementation of a unique model on the basis of our organization in Kyiv – a testing room and instant registration and provision of ARV therapy – has played a key role in ensuring the access of the most-at-risk populations to medical examination and treatment of HIV. Thus, in the difficult conditions of the pandemic, the Organization ensured the unimpeded registration of clients for dispensary enrolment and provision of ART.
Convictus Ukraine works at the national and local levels to build a system of public health and social protection. Convictus Ukraine creates effective programs, institutionalizes services, implements innovationsand lobbies the interests of most-at-riskpopulations. The Director of the Organization, YevheniiaKuvshynova, is a delegate from non-governmental organizations to the National Council on HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis in Ukraine at the Cabinet of Ministers. Representatives of the Organization aremembers of the advisory bodies to administrations and ministries and seek to influence the people-oriented policy-making.
Every day, Convictus Ukraine is actively developing and working to ensure equal human rights to medical and social care and create conditions for improving the quality of life of most-at-risk groups. We have a wide network of partners among governmental and non-governmental organizations that are open to cooperation to achieve a common goal.
- Registration Date: 14 June 2007
- Document No: Series А01, Certificate No. 625752
- Issued by: Shevchenkivska Regional State Administration in Kyiv
- Founded by: NGO Convictus Sweden