In December 2023, Slovakia hosted the SYNERGY Conference, "Support for services to victims of domestic and gender-based violence - finding the way to the results and addressing sexual violence", focused on supporting victims of domestic and gender-based violence, with a particular emphasis on sexual violence. Slovakian President Susana Čaputová officially opened the Conference, drawing over 130 participants from 18 countries affiliated with the EEA and Norway Grants.
The Council of Europe is engaged with the Norway Grants’ Slovakia Gender Based Violence Programme as International Partner Organisation, focused on combating gender based violence. The CoE participated in the SYNERGY Conference addressing key issues such as trends in support services for victims, reporting violence against women, European standards on sexual violence, and promising practices.
The Council of Europe actively contributes to the SYNERGY Network, coordinated by the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security, which serves as a powerhouse for exchanging information, raising awareness, informing policymaking, and improving strategies to address violence against women and domestic violence in Europe in line with the Istanbul Convention. As the SYNERGY Network continues to serve as a catalyst for change, the collaborative efforts witnessed at the conference set a precedent for future initiatives, highlighting the collective determination to combat violence against women and create a safer world for women in Europe.
The Council of Europe is the main international partner of the SYNERGY Network against gender-based and domestic violence and functions as International Partner Organisation on gender-based violence in several countries under EEA and Norway Grants.
See more:
SYNERGY NETWORK. Violence survivors need accessible support services
COUNCIL OF EUROPE. Addressing violence against women: Experiences from Slovakia's Norway Grants Programme
COUNCIL OF EUROPE. Cooperation between the Council of Europe and EEA and Norway Grants on gender-based violence and domestic violence
