The mission-driven initiative "Pathways to end violence against women" (Pathways Initiative) is centred on applying the Council of Europe's unique expertise on combating violence against women and gender equality in work through the EEA and Norway Grants.

The Pathways Initiative will provide expert guidance on implementing the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention) and the Council of Europe’s Gender Equality Strategy to EEA and Norway Grants’ programmes and projects. A significant focus of the Pathways Initiative will be providing support to the SYNERGY Network against domestic and gender-based violence, coordinated by the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security.

Through this two pronged approach, Pathways contributes to strengthening legislative and policy frameworks in fifteen member states in line with Council of Europe standards and supports the objectives of EEA and Norway Grants’ Programme Area 10 to prevent and combat domestic and gender-based violence.

 Funding: EEA and Norway Grants 

 Duration of the Initiative: 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2030

 Leaflet of the Initiative

Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Expertise to support the successful implementation of EEA and Norway Grants activities regarding Programme Area 10 (domestic and gender-based violence) can be requested, based on the Terms of Reference for the Pathways Initiative.

• Support EEA and Norway Grants beneficiary countries to adapt their national policies, legislation, and/or practices by implementing key Council of Europe instruments and recommendations focused on violence against women, delivered through strategic advising provided at the request of beneficiary countries.
• Strengthen the SYNERGY Network to expand the reach and effectiveness of efforts to address violence against women across fifteen countries, and enhance regional cooperation and shared learning.

Through extensive, long-standing co-operation, the Council of Europe and the EEA and Norway Grants support member states in implementing European standards. The Council of Europe is a key partner for the Grants, thanks to its various bodies and instruments, which cover a wide range of important areas. This co-operation focuses on Council of Europe’s unique role in translating international standards into practical outcomes to ensure impactful and sustainable interventions.

The current EEA and Norway Grants funding cycle runs from 2025 to 2032, building on the Council of Europe's work in two previous cycles.

• Council of Europe thematic list of publications on violence against women and gender equality
• Council of Europe gender equality resource library in 32 languages
• SYNERGY Network resources