“Voices Matter: Being There” is a public discussion meeting initiated by the Kateryna Osadcha Foundation in partnership with the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) dedicated to supporting families whose loved ones have disappeared as a result of the war in Ukraine.

The event took place in Kyiv and brought together the families of the missing, representatives of state institutions, international organizations, the public sector, human rights activists and the media for an open dialogue on the key needs of families in a state of uncertainty.

The focus of the discussion is the socio-psychological and legal support of families who daily live in ignorance about the fate of their loved ones. Particular attention was paid to the issues of state communication with families, access to information and mechanisms for finding the missing.

The meeting was opened by the founder of the Kateryna Osadcha Foundation, emphasizing the scale of the problem: in Ukraine there are tens of thousands of missing people, including civilians and children, and the need for systemic support for families is growing every day.

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The program of the event included panel discussions with representatives of government agencies, international organizations and public initiatives, as well as families who shared their own experiences of finding and living a loss in a state of uncertainty.

The final part of the event was an artistic interpretation of the theme of loss and memory — fragments of a theatrical project based on the book “Mom, Remember”, which reinforced the emotional dimension of the meeting and gave voice to personal stories.

“Hearing Everyone: Being Nearby” is about creating a space where families are not left alone with their uncertainty, and society, the state and international partners join forces to find solutions and support.