Ukrainian Women Are Returning For Reproductive Support Because EU Countries Are Failing Them
Women who left Ukraine and sought refuge in Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia following the Russian invasion have been accessing care outside of legal pathways – or returning to Ukraine temporarily.
They have been doing so out of necessity – to access sexual and reproductive healthcare, and gender-based violence support which they have not been able to receive in host EU countries, according to a new study.
“Roma refugees from Ukraine are treated with such biases and double standards, being denied simple emergency services or basic products,” said Carmen Gheorghe from E-Romnja.
“In addition to the barriers faced by all women who need access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, they face institutional racism, sexism and classism. They are being segregated in some shelters, or discouraged from addressing services.”
More than eight million people — primarily women and children – have sought refuge in countries throughout Europe. Those countries aren’t doing enough to protect them.
The study, conducted by a collective of human rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender-based violence organisations working in Hungary, Romania, Poland, Slovakia and the EU, found that Ukrainian women have been forced to return to a war-torn and besieged nation.
This is because EU member states have subjected them to harmful delays inducing fear and anxiety resulting from insurmountable financial burdens, institutional racism, and sub-standard care.
“The European Union has promised to provide refugees from Ukraine with sanctuary and care” said Leah Hoctor, Senior Regional Director of the Europe Centre for Reproductive Rights.
“Women from Ukraine who are now in Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Romania often experience a very different reality when they need sexual and reproductive healthcare. Instead of care and protection, they regularly face an obstacle course of restrictions, confusion, stigma and discrimination.”
This discrimination is leading many women to return to Ukraine – during an ongoing invasion – to seek basic rights and healthcare.
This study based findings on over 80 interviews with refugees, professional stakeholders, and experts in four countries, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
It did not look into the conditions being experienced by Ukrainian citizens in Malta – thought they are presumably facing similar problems here given that reproductive healthcare here is primitive and limited, regardless of nationality.
The study recommended that the European Union and national governments adopt a series of urgent actions – as they believe that conditions must be improved immediately, so that refugees will no longer feel the need to return to Ukraine when in need of sexual and reproductive healthcare.
Amongst these recommendations is a strong implication that in order for the EU to ensure that refugees are treated safely, quickly and with respect and dignity, it needs to tackle discriminatory biases against foreigners – but must also adopt stronger stances enshrining improved reproductive rights for all women and LGBTQ+ people.
“Slovakia does not have the necessary services in place to respond to the needs of women from Ukraine,” said Adriana Mesochoritisova from Freedom of Choice, Slovakia.
“Whether it comes to abortion care, contraception services, gender-based violence support so much is lacking. There are so many barriers in their way.”
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