This project builds on previous cooperation with the Moldovan authorities in the field of violence against women and domestic violence, particularly through the initiative “Awareness-raising activities on the Istanbul Convention in the Republic of Moldova”, implemented in 2020–2021. The initiative played a crucial role in enhancing understanding of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (the Istanbul Convention), focusing on its core values, objectives, and provisions. Additionally, it supported the Moldovan authorities in creating the necessary conditions for the ratification of the Convention.

This new phase of cooperation serves as a roadmap to assist the Moldovan authorities in the early stages of implementing the Istanbul Convention, in line with existing national policy frameworks. It will continue to focus on raising awareness of the Convention and other gender equality standards among a broad range of stakeholders. In addition, the project will work to strengthen the capacities of key actors responsible for preventing and combating violence against women, protecting victims, developing programmes for perpetrators, and improving coordination among institutions, in accordance with the Convention’s principles.

 What is the goal and objective of the action?

Phase II of the project “Supporting the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in the Republic of Moldova” will build upon the outcomes of Phase I, which aimed to raise awareness of the Convention, enhance the capacity of key stakeholders and frontline professionals working in the field of preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (VAW/DV), and strengthen co-operation among the actors responsible in this area. 

 Funding: The total budget is 2 500 000 EUR.

 Duration of the project: 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2028

 Who benefits from the action?

• National Agency for the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence
• Ministry of Internal Affairs (including General Police Inspectorate)
• Ministry of Labour and Social Protection
• National Institute of Justice

Final beneficiaries: Citizens of Republic of Moldova, victims of violence against women (women and girls).

 How does the action work?

The project will focus on five key areas:

Legal and policy frameworks – the project will further support the alignment of the Moldovan legislation and policies with the EU provisions, in line with the Istanbul Convention, including the digital dimension of violence against women.  The GREVIO baseline findings and Committee of the Parties (CoP) recommendations to the Republic of Moldova issued in November 2023, will serve as a foundation for the CoE’s support.

Institutional capacity and professionals’ knowledge on VAW/DV – this will involve training professionals and implementing cross-actor multi-agency cooperation to ensure that the convention's provisions are applied across all relevant actors.

Awareness-raising – the project will continue its efforts to raise awareness about preventing and combating all forms of violence against women. These activities will include outreach to marginalised groups, such as Roma women, women with disabilities, migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking women, and LBTI women. The younger generation (students) will also be involved. This component will further include co-operation, where appropriate, with national human rights institutions and civil society, particularly women’s organisations.

Quality of support services for victims - the project will collaborate with specialised authorities and civil society organisations to support the establishment and enhancement of specialist women's support services throughout the country, adopting a gender-sensitive approach. This initiative aims to provide immediate, medium-, and long-term support to women victims of violence.

Treatment programs for perpetrators of domestic violence - the project will assist the authorities in developing common minimum standards for perpetrator programs, in line with the Istanbul Convention and recognised best practices.   

 What do we expect to achieve?

Awareness-raising and Prevention: The Project aims to enhance understanding of the Istanbul Convention and other gender equality standards across multiple sectors and actors in the Republic of Moldova. This will be achieved through targeted workshops for diverse audiences including journalists and civil society organisations, provision of grants to NGOs for awareness-raising initiatives aligned with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, and the development and translation of visibility materials to increase outreach and impact.

Strengthening Multi-agency Co-operation: Efforts will focus on fostering increased collaboration among agencies to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence. Key activities include conducting research on multi-agency co-operation and risk assessments, as well as promoting joint efforts through working groups and study visits aimed at enhancing coordination and effective response.

Capacity-building of Professionals: Capacity development will target national authorities, legal professionals, and civil servants to align legislation and policies with Council of Europe standards, including the Istanbul Convention. Training sessions will be delivered to legal professionals and police officers through the HELP Programme, alongside the creation of guidelines and training-of-trainers methodologies for social workers, followed by cascade trainings to ensure sustainable application of knowledge in practice.