The COVAW-III project (Combating Violence against Women in Ukraine - Phase III, 2025-2026) builds upon previous Council of Europe initiatives in Ukraine and aims to develop robust policies to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence in line with the Istanbul Convention standards. Launched during Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which has heightened the risk of multiple forms of violence against women, the project takes a holistic approach by supporting policy development, legislation and capacity-building for relevant authorities while engaging various stakeholders including civil society organisations.

The COVAW-III project focuses on two key aspects: violence against women and gender equality, both rooted in Council of Europe standards. COVAW-III will support the implementation process of the Istanbul Convention in Ukraine, and the knowledge and mechanisms created will contribute to better protection of women's human rights in Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities and civil society at central and regional levels will be introduced into international gender equality standards at the level of policies, legislation and practices to achieve de facto gender equality.

 Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine

 Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine

 Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine

 Office of the Government Commissioner on Gender Policy

 Secretariat of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights

 National Social Service of Ukraine

 Coordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision

 Higher School of Advocacy of the Ukrainian National Bar Association

 National Bar Association of Ukraine

 Prosecutor's Training Centre of Ukraine

 Civil Society Organisations focused on women's human rights

  Donors to the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” 2023-2026

The project is implemented by the Co-operation Projects Unit at the Council of Europe’s Gender Equality Division

 Danko RUNIĆ, Project Manager

 Héloïse VERSAVEL, Junior Project Officer

together with the Council of Europe Office in Kyiv

 Valeriia TKACHENKO, Senior Project Officer

 Viktoriia TERESHCHENKO, Project Officer

 Tetiana ANTONCHENKO, Project Assistant