What is the status of children who witness domestic violence?

Both children who have experienced domestic violence and those who have witnessed it are recognized as survivors.

Ukrainian legislation defines a child who has suffered from domestic violence as a person under the age of 18 who has either experienced domestic violence in any form or witnessed (been an eyewitness to) such violence.

Therefore, when establishing the fact of domestic violence, officers of the National Police of Ukraine must document that the violence occurred in the presence of the child. A child who is a survivor has all the rights of a survivor, and the realization of these rights must be ensured with consideration of the child's best interests, including their age, gender, health, intellectual and physical development.