News
21 police officers certified to repond to technology-facilitated violence against women in Bosnia and Herzegovina
21 police officers, out of which 8 women and 13 men, across all the ten cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are now certified trainers, after having completed an advanced training course on technology-facilitated violence against women. Building on training activities organised...
Justice professionals strengthen their response to violence against women, domestic violence and femicide
When victims of violence against women or domestic violence turn to the justice system, they need a response that is timely, effective, coordinated, and sensitive to their specific needs. To support this, six specialised regional training seminars were organised in Chișinău, Bălți and Cahul for...
Consent-based approach key to strengthening protection against sexual violence
The best prevention against sexual violence is a legal framework that incorporates the definition of rape based on the absence of freely given consent, supported by effective institutional measures to protect victims and ensure access to justice. This was the key message of a conference held in...
Building local expertise for women’s access to justice
A woman’s journey towards access to justice is not limited to obtaining legal information. How then can local actors working in the field of women's access to justice be equipped to promote and embed this approach within their own institutions and across their provinces? To address this question,...
Preschool professionals in Armenia strengthen skills to promote gender-responsive and safe learning environment
On 4 - 5 August, the Council of Europe organised a two-day online training for 63 Armenian preschool directors, educators, methodologists and speech therapists to strengthen their capacity to apply gender-responsive approaches in preschool education and better recognise and respond to situations...
University legal aid clinics strengthen co-operation to advance women’s access to justice in Georgia
Strengthening co-operation between university legal clinics and their capacity to support women’s access to justice were at the centre of the first working meeting of the Coordination Platform of Legal Clinics on Women’s Rights, held in Tbilisi on 14 July. The recently established Platform brings...
Future lawyers and ICT professionals learn to build safer online environments for women
How can tomorrow’s lawyers and technology professionals shape safer digital spaces for women and girls? In Georgia, future lawyers and ICT professionals are now equipped to create stronger, coordinated responses to digital dimension of violence against women. This matters because technology is...
Civil Society Organisations are equipped with guidance for Grant Applications on Access to Justice
An online training on grant rules and procedures brought together over 100 representatives from civil society organisations (CSOs) across Türkiye. Participants received comprehensive, practical guidance on preparing and submitting grant applications, gaining essential skills to develop robust...
Police and Investigative Committee of Armenia advance joint response to domestic violence
A Council of Europe workshop held on 21 July 2026 brought together representatives of the Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Investigative Committee of Armenia to strengthen their joint response to domestic violence. The event advanced inter-institutional co-operation aimed at...
Experts discuss legal and institutional responses to domestic violence in Azerbaijan
Responding effectively to domestic violence takes more than good laws: it requires strong co-operation between institutions, consistent implementation on the ground, and ongoing exchange of good practice. Bringing together national institutions and international expertise offers a chance to take...
GREVIO workshops strengthen evidence-based reporting on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Representatives of institutions and co-ordination bodies from across Bosnia and Herzegovina strengthened their capacities to prepare comprehensive and evidence-based responses for the first thematic evaluation round of the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic...
Building bridges for women's access to justice: Strengthening local cooperation
Improving women's access to justice begins long before a case reaches a courtroom. It starts with institutions communicating effectively, understanding one another's roles and working together to ensure that women can receive the support they need, without having to navigate complex systems...
Republika Srpska and Brčko District law enforcement further strengthen skills to address technology-facilitated violence against women
A second training session was organised for 15 law enforcement representatives from Republika Srpska and Brčko District in Sarajevo from 13 to 15 July 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional responses to technology-facilitated violence against women in Bosnia and Herzegovina....
Shaping the next generation of lawyers to combat digital and sexual violence against women
A Regional Summer School for law students brought together 30 law students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo1, addressing digital and sexual violence against women. It was held in Trebinje from 6 to 10 July. Participants were introduced to the...
Council of Europe Recommendations on AI and technology-facilitated violence against women and girls are now available in Ukrainian
Two recent recommendations adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 4 March 2026 have been translated in Ukrainian. They address the problems posed to gender equality and non-discrimination, and the increase in violence against women and girls, by the structure of new technologies: CM/Rec(2026)1...
Council of Europe presents new Recommendation on accountability for technology-facilitated violence against women and girls at OECD meeting
The Council of Europe presented its newly adopted Recommendation on accountability for technology-facilitated violence against women and girls during the OECD Forum on Gender Equality 2026. Speaking at a session on Tackling gender-based violence in the digital age against women public figures...
Advancing Gender Equality Through Values-Based Communication: a new Practical Guide to deflect anti-gender rhetoric
Rhetoric questioning gender equality is increasingly used as a tool to fuel mistrust in democratic institutions and to polarise societies. To support authorities, communicators, and civil society to counteract these divisive narratives, the Council of Europe’s Gender Equality Commission has...
Council of Europe’s Gender Equality in Education Scorecard (GESC) Working Group
On 29-30 June 2026, the fourth meeting of the Council of Europe’s Gender Equality in Education Scorecard (GESC) Working Group was held in Strasbourg and online. The session brought together experts, members of the Steering Committee for Education (CDEDU) and the Gender Equality Commission (GEC),...
Council of Europe study examines protection from violence of women with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities in the Republic of Moldova
In the Republic of Moldova, women with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities remain largely invisible within the system designed to prevent and respond to violence against women and domestic violence. Evidence shows that women with disabilities are two to five times more likely to experience...
Professionals explore ways to strengthen coordination and referral mechanisms for victim support in Azerbaijan
Effective coordination and referral mechanisms are important for ensuring that victims of violence against women and domestic violence receive protection and timely, appropriate and continuous support. As victims often interact with multiple services, cooperation among professionals and...
