News
Toward effective perpetrator programmes in line with European standards
On 2 and 3 June 2026, the Council of Europe, in co-operation with the European Network for the Work with Perpetrators of Domestic Violence (WWP EN), organised a conference in Budapest, Hungary: “Toward effective perpetrator programmes in line with European standards: Bridging policy, practice...
Council of Europe supports safe and dignified voluntary return of women and girls to Ukraine
The Council of Europe has recently published the guide, “Safe and dignified: Gender-sensitive voluntary return strategies for Ukraine”, to assist Ukraine in developing gender-sensitive voluntary return procedures, focused on the needs of women and girls affected by violence or at risk. It...
Gender Equality Commission Annual Conference
Strasbourg, 9 June 2026 - The Council of Europe will gather leading policymakers, experts, and members of civil society at the Palais de l’Europe for the Gender Equality Commission’s Annual Conference, “Women forging lasting peace: Dismantling barriers to gender-inclusive conflict resolution and...
Gender Equality Commission meets in Strasbourg and launches new Committee of Ministers Recommendation on Accountability for Technology-facilitated violence against women and girls
The Gender Equality Commission (GEC) is holding its 29th plenary meeting on 10 to 12 June 2026 in Strasbourg. A highlight of the agenda will be the launch of the Recommendation on Accountability for Technology-facilitated violence against women and girls, adopted by the Committee of Ministers on...
SYNERGY Network launches new strategy with steering committee meeting in Nicosia
Twenty-five participants from 11 countries gathered in Nicosia, Cyprus from 17–19 May 2026 for first Steering Committee meeting of the SYNERGY Network against gender based and domestic violence. The meeting, co-organised by the Council of Europe Pathways Initiative under the EEA and Norway Grants...
Council of Europe supports partnerships with civil society organisations through EEA and Norway Grants
The Council of Europe’s commitment to human rights in Europe through supporting civil society was recently demonstrated through a gathering of EEA and Norway Grants’ Civil Society Fund Operators from 14 countries, held in January 2026 at the Financial Mechanism Office in Brussels. In discussions...
Call for applications: Integrating a gender perspective into legal education
The Council of Europe is launching a call for applications for a regional workshop entitled “Integrating a gender perspective into legal education”, to be held on 23 October 2026 at the European Youth Centre Budapest (EYCB), Hungary. The workshop will bring together up to 60 law professors from...
Georgian professionals strengthen victim-centred and trauma-informed responses
Trauma-informed and victim-centred responses to violence against women and domestic violence were the focus of a training organised for 50 representatives of shelters, crisis centres and hotlines operating under the State Care Agency of Georgia, the primary provider of support services for...
Workshop on strengthening coordinated policies to combat violence against women and domestic violence held in Floresti
Effective prevention and combating of violence against women and domestic violence requires clear legal frameworks, coordinated institutional action, and practical protection mechanisms for victims. On 14 May 2026, the first 2026 workshop of Thematic Group II – Criminal Prosecution / Coordinated...
Handbook on gender mainstreaming for Ukrainian authorities published
The publication “Gender mainstreaming in action: A handbook for local gender related coordinators in Ukraine” targeting the unique challenges faced by civil servants at local and regional level in Ukraine is now available. This publication offers specific guidance and resources for local...
Ukrainian civil servants' gender mainstreaming skills strengthened
On 28-29 April 2026, 23 civil servants the Ministry of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the National Police, and others, enhanced their professional competencies in gender equality and gender mainstreaming. The training was designed to...
From standards to action: Council of Europe launches new Recommendation on accountability for technology-facilitated violence against women and girls
On 10 June 2026, from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm CET, the Council of Europe will launch Recommendation CM/Rec(2026)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on accountability for technology-facilitated violence against women and girls at a hybrid event in Strasbourg and online. Entitled “From...
Training of justice sector professionals on examining crimes of violence against women and domestic violence held in Cahul
Cases of violence against women and domestic violence require a response from the justice system that is specialised, coherent, and victim-centred. In this regard, it is essential that justice professionals possess the knowledge and skills necessary for the effective investigation and prosecution...
Supporting initiatives in Republika Srpska to align the legislative framework with the Istanbul Convention on the definition of sexual violence
A roundtable was held in Banja Luka focused on initiatives to amend the Criminal Code of Republika Srpska, with the aim to enhance the institutional response to sexual violence through a consent-based approach. The event brought together key representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry...
GEC and CDADI publish joint statement on the fundamental importance of equality, gender equality, diversity and inclusion for the New Democratic Pact for Europe
The Council of Europe’s Gender Equality Commission (GEC) and Steering Committee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI) today publish their first ever joint statement. The statement underlines the fundamental importance of equality, gender equality, diversity and inclusion for the...
Advancing gender equality through judicial training: Conference highlights pathways towards mandatory training for judges and prosecutors
An international conference on Advancing gender equality through training for judges and prosecutors brought together judicial training institutions, judges, prosecutors and policy-makers from across Europe to Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. The event organised in partnership with the Moldovan...
Enhancing police capacities to address digital violence against women in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
A three-day training was held in Sarajevo from 15 to 17 April 2026, focused on enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement in relation to violence against women in the digital environment. The activity brought together 18 police officers from across the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina,...
Strengthening support for refugee women and girls through co-operation with civil society organisations in Armenia
Civil society organisations across Armenia are strengthening their co-operation to better support refugee communities in Armenia, and address the complex challenges they face, from access to employment to social inclusion and protection. More than 400 women and girls, including refugees, have...
The Republic of Moldova hosts international platform on integrated policies and intersectoral cooperation in justice responses to violence against women
The first edition of the International Platform on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, dedicated to integrated policies and intersectoral cooperation in the field of justice, took place in Chișinău on 7 April, marking the launch of an annual framework for...
The Republic of Moldova's government adopts national indicators on violence against women and domestic violence, supported by the Council of Europe
Effective prevention and response to violence against women and domestic violence rely on accurate, comprehensive, and coordinated data. However, fragmented, and inconsistent data collection has long hindered a realistic assessment of the phenomenon, limiting the ability of institutions to...
