Regional Programme on Ending Violence against Women in the Western Balkans and Turkey
The three-year programme, ‘Implementing Norms, Changing Minds’, aims at ending gender-based discrimination and violence against women in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo [1], Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia) and Turkey, with a particular focus on the most disadvantaged groups of women.
The adoption and full implementation of frameworks aligned with international normative standards – including those standards outlined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Istanbul Convention and the European Union acquis communautaire – are essential for addressing gender-based discrimination and violence against women. The programme will strengthen women’s organizations capacity to hold governments to account, advocate for effective implementation, and monitor prevention of and response to violence against women. Beyond the full implementation of legislative frameworks, the programme also addresses structural causes of gender inequality – and one of its most pervasive expressions, violence against women – through a transformation of gender discriminatory stereotypes, perceptions and beliefs. Lastly, protection, prevention and response to violence against women is closely interlinked with the availability of and access to comprehensive, multi-sectoral services for survivors of violence.
Find out more about the programme.
Latest stories
Follow-up workshop on strategic communication planning applying the Communication for Behavioral–Impact (COMBI) planning methodology, with a special focus on gender quality and ending violence against women. Read more
Partnering to End Violence Against Women. EU-UN Women Regional Programme on Ending Violence Against Women in the Western Balkans and Turkey: “Implementing Norms, Changing Minds”.
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- 2018 Public Perceptions of Gender Equality and Violence Against Women in the Western Balkans and Turkey
- Emergency shelters and specialized services needed for women survivors of violence in Albania
- In the words of Irena Cvetkovic: “Women are afraid to use public spaces alone and at night”
- From where I stand: “We want to engage young men and boys in the fight to end violence against women and girls”
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[1] All references to Kosovo on this website shall be understood to be in full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).
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