Co-operation Newsroom
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 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...
Armenian stakeholders discuss ways to close gender data gaps in access to justice for women
Across the Eastern Partnership region, there is increasing recognition that gender-sensitive justice reform depends on better data. Where information on women's experiences in the justice system is incomplete or inconsistent, policymakers have limited tools to respond effectively. Representatives...
Advancing Women’s Access to Justice in the Western Balkans: Reflections on the Spanish experience
On 9-10 June 2026, mentors of the second cohort of the Mentoring Programme for Legal Professionals on Women’s Access to Justice took part in a study visit to Madrid, Spain. The mentors came from all six project beneficiary countries in the Western Balkans. The study visit, hosted by the Ministry...
From accountability to change: facilitators trained to work with perpetrators of violence against women
The Council of Europe project “Aligning Laws and Policies with the Istanbul Convention” supported the Ministry of Justice in delivering specialised training for facilitators from the Kosovo Correctional Service on the implementation of the National Programme for the Treatment of Perpetrators of...
Multi stakeholders dialogue on the Gender Equality Strategy implementation in Ukraine
On 13 May 2026, more than 150 representatives from various ministries, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, and academia took part in a roundtable presenting the Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy 2024–2029 to Ukrainian stakeholders and discussing its implementation in...
Ukrainian civil society supports the implementation of the Istanbul Convention
The charitable foundation Sylni (Sylni) has completed an awareness-raising project on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combatting violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) in Ukraine. The action entitled “Stop to violence: raising...
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...
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 the 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...
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...
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...
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...
