Reinforcing the fight against violence against women and domestic violence in Kosovo* (phase III)

The project builds on the results of the project "Reinforcing the fight against violence against women and domestic violence in Kosovo* (phase II)" implemented in 2019-2021.

Kosovo* as of on 25 September 2020 has adopted an amendment to the Constitution that gives direct effect to Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention). In this context, supporting local authorities on implementation of the Istanbul Convention standards is of utmost importance.The Council of Europe project aims at defining a concrete roadmap for strengthening Kosovo’s* legal an policy frameworks in co-operation with the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) as well as building institutional capacities to prevent and counter violence against women and domestic violence in line with the standards of the Istanbul Convention.
Expected outcomes
- Access to Justice for victims of VAW and DV is enhanced;
- Kosovo*authorities design legal and policy frameworks in line with international and CoE requirements in the area of VAW and DV;
- Victims of VAW and DV receive quality support by trained staff and an increased number of perpetrators are held accountable and rehabilitated;
- Legal professionals dealing with cases have a better understanding of victim-centered gender-sensitive approaches to VAW and DV and enhanced skills to deal with these cases;
- An inclusive expert evaluation and participatory process is implemented in line with international and CoE standards;
- NGOs and other relevant stakeholders are more capable to conduct prevention campaigns dealing with VAW and DV;
- The Division on social services and welfare of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare applies quality guidelines including training for centers for social work;
- Local support services are equipped with knowledge and skills to establish and run perpetrators programmes.

* All reference to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.

- National Coordinator on Domestic Violence
- Kosovo Justice Academy
- Agency for Gender Equality
- Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare

This project is implemented by the Council of Europe and co-funded by Ireland, Norway and the Council of Europe.

1 July 2021 – 28 February 2023

The project is implemented by
the Capacity Building and Co-operation Projects Unit at the Council of Europe's Gender Equality Division
Marta BECERRA, Head of Unit, Project Manager
together with

- Co-operation projects
- Co-operation Newsroom
- Co-operation with the EEA and Norway Grants
- PGG: Strengthening access to justice for women victims of violence (2015-2018)
- PGG II: Women's Access to Justice (2019-2022)
- Preventing and Combating Violence against Women in Armenia (2018)
- The Path towards Armenia's Ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence
- Raising Bosnia and Herzegovina's institutional capacity to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence (2019)
- Preventing and Combating Violence against Women in Georgia (2018-2019)
- Reinforcing the fight against violence against women and domestic violence in Kosovo* (Phase II), 2019 -2021
- Co-operation on the implementation of the Russian Federation National Action Strategy for Women 2017–2022 (2019-2020)
- The Istanbul Convention: a tool to advance in fighting violence against women and domestic violence in Ukraine (2018-2020)
- Co-operation with Southern Mediterranean countries
- Promoting an Integrated Approach to End Violence against Women and Enhancing Gender Equality in Georgia (2020-2022)
- Awareness-raising Activities on the Istanbul Convention in the Republic of Moldova (2020-2021)
- Fostering a comprehensive institutional response to violence against women and domestic violence in Turkey
- Raising awareness of the Istanbul Convention and other gender equality standards in Azerbaijan
- Combating Violence Against Women in Ukraine (COVAW)
- Contact us -coop projects
- Reinforcing the fight against violence against women and domestic violence in Kosovo* (phase III)
- Cooperation for the implementation of the Russian Federation National Action Strategy for Women: applying best practices
- Fostering women’s access to justice in Turkey
- Supporting the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in the Republic of Moldova
- Ending violence against women: multi-country programme