Europe and Central Asia

Group of trained women standing for a group photo inside a room — Group photo of trained participants. Credit: Eric Hakobyan/Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women (Armenia)

Albania

Center Shelter Edlira Haxhiymeri - Initiative Title: The Relentless Resilience - Combating Gender-Based Violence in Albania – Cycle 27

In Albania, women and girls facing compounded vulnerabilities—such as gender identity, sexual orientation, HIV status, and displacement—are at heightened risk of gender-based violence (GBV). Critical gaps in trauma-informed services persist. According to a National Survey on violence against women and girls1 out of 2 (or 52.9 percent) of women ‘ever’ experienced one or more of the five different types of violence (intimate partner violence, dating violence, non-partner violence, sexual harassment and/or stalking) during their lifetime.[1]

Center Shelter Edlira Haxhiymeri is a key advocate for marginalized women and girls, providing safe accommodation, legal aid, medical care, and vocational training, even during crises. This initiative aims to improve access for 150 women towards essential services, enhance shelter resilience, and raise awareness on the critical need for preventing and ending violence, creating a safer and more equitable Albania for all women and girls.

The initiative includes: (1) Enhancing shelter services with trauma-informed care; (2) Building capacity through crisis-response training for shelter staff; (3) Rural outreach to support women in remote areas; (4) Tailored gender-responsive programmes for LBT women and other vulnerable groups; (5) Awareness campaigns to challenge harmful gender norms; and (6) Community engagement through partnerships with government and NGOs.

Alliance Against LGBT Discrimination - Project Title: Advancing social inclusion of LBT women through increased access to community based and integrated social services and by promoting models of inclusive practices – Cycle 24

The COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown have made it extremely challenging for many lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LBT) women in Albania to fulfil their basic needs. Institutional barriers, lack of trust and discriminatory legislation mean that they cannot reach the limited social services available to the general public, so they rely on organizations providing essential services to LBT women. During the pandemic, many of these women have been forced to return to their families, often resulting in exposure to psychological and physical abuse.

The project run by Alliance Against LGBT Discrimination (AALGBT) aims to ensure that LBT women have access to inclusive services through implementation of models of inclusive employment, housing and case management during and after the COVID-19 crisis.

Project strategies include: (1) enabling access to safe spaces for LBT women through community-based centres and the provision of affirmative social care services; (2) promoting economic inclusion for LBT women through social enterprises and on-the-job training; (3) improving housing for LBT women; (4) promoting information-sharing on models of inclusive practices; and (5) delivering direct services to LBT women.

IAMANEH Switzerland - Programme Title: Building resilience and response to violence against women and girls under COVID-19 in Albania – Cycle 24

The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially aggravated the risks of violence against women and girls at a time when referral mechanisms, public and private service providers and the health system have struggled to meet increased demand.

IAMANEH Switzerland, an international non-governmental organization, aims through its project to improve access for women and girls to essential, safe and adequate multi-sectoral services during the pandemic in 10 municipalities of Albania. It will focus on those most marginalized and at-risk of gender-based violence, including elderly women, women with disabilities, and women from Roma and Egyptian communities. The project aims to reach 400 women/girls from minority ethnic groups, 300 women/girls with disabilities, 3,500 women/girl survivors of violence and 700 women/girls living in rural and remote areas.

To achieve this, the project aims to: (1) empower women and girl survivors or at-risk of violence; (2) increase the effectiveness of the community network of services and emergency responses; (3) strengthen the multi-sectoral referral and response mechanisms, including by building the capacity key agencies dealing with violence against women and girls; (4) help to develop a new legal framework addressing digital and online violence against women; and (5) campaign to revise Section VI ("Sexual crimes") of the Albanian Criminal Code.

Armenia

Women's Center, Shushi - Initiative Title: Advancing Post-Conflict Trauma Healing and Integration for Displaced Women of Nagorno Karabakh – Cycle 27

In Armenia, displaced women from Nagorno Karabakh face profound challenges due to the aftermath of two wars, a blockade, and forced displacement. These women often experience multiple forms of trauma—psychological, physical, and economic—while taking on the role of primary caretakers for injured family members and struggling to access essential services. An estimated half of the region’s population, approximately 90,000 people, mainly women and children, were displaced.[2]

The Women's Center, Shushi is women’s rights organization dedicated to support women, particularly in Yerevan and nearby regions. With a focus on empowerment and community integration, the organization aims to provide crucial services tailored to the needs of over 550 displaced women. This initiative aims to empower displaced women from Nagorno Karabakh to confront and overcome violence in their families and communities, ensuring their needs are recognized by relevant state bodies and facilitating their social and economic integration into Armenian society.

The initiative employs several impactful strategies: (1) Organizing community dialogue meetings to challenge stereotypes and foster understanding; (2) Collecting and sharing oral stories to combat negative perceptions; (3) Hosting safe space open door events featuring film screenings, art therapy, and communal cooking; (4) Initiating "Shuhel," a knitting and crocheting initiative for healing and economic empowerment; (5) Facilitating group therapy sessions with professional psychologists; (6) Conducting in-depth research on the challenges faced by displaced women; (7) Providing legal consultations to assist up to 250 women; and (8) Organizing advocacy meetings to raise awareness of the rights and concerns of displaced women.

Coalition to Stop Violence against Women (CSVW) - Project Title: Transforming the domestic violence agenda in Armenia – Cycle 25

Women and girls in Armenia continue to face violence, particularly domestic violence and sexual violence, yet cases are under-reported as women lack access to comprehensive services and face cultural and institutional barriers. The COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war exacerbated violence.

CSVW, a women-led, women’s rights organization, seeks to end gender-based violence by strengthening accountability, prevention and prevention mechanisms. It unites 11 non-governmental organizations working with marginalized women and girls.

Its multi-pronged project will interlink service provision, primary prevention and advocacy to support and protect women and girls, improve societal awareness and drive institutional reform. It will involve women across all 10 regions of Armenia. Women from the targeted communities will take the lead in the project’s design and implementation.

Project strategies include: (1) comprehensive specialist support services for survivors, especially marginalized women and girls; (2) capacity building for regional domestic violence centres and non-governmental organizations, service providers, teachers, police departments, and investigative and law enforcement bodies; (3) round-table discussions, official meetings and public presentations; (4) court monitoring and monitoring of regional state-supported domestic violence support centres; (5) engagement of multi-stakeholder partners, the media and public influencers; (6) production of accessible visual materials and publications; and (7) development of guidelines and research studies.

Women’s Support Center - Project Title: Preventing and combating domestic violence in Armenia in the COVID-19 and post-war context – Cycle 24

The project of the Women’s Support Center (WSC) aims to support 1,080 women and girl survivors of domestic violence in seven regions, and internally displaced women and girls in three regions, in an effort to end the cycle of abuse in the COVID-19 and post-conflict context. WSC plans to work closely with trained social workers at 10 domestic violence crisis centres and the police to facilitate a strong network of domestic violence service providers. Additionally, it plans to use its vast network and contacts to engage regional police departments and centres that offer assistance to domestic violence survivors.

The project aims to: (1) provide comprehensive services to women survivors of domestic violence (including women living with disabilities, women and girl victims of sexual exploitation, and displaced women and girls); (2) establish an economic empowerment programme to help beneficiaries access vocational training, find employment, and/or start their own small businesses; (3) deliver an awareness raising workshop on domestic violence for displaced women; and (4) train police and social workers to improve the multi-sectoral response to domestic violence.

Azerbaijan

Disabled Women Society of Azerbaijan (DWSA) - Project Title: Improving access of women and girls with disabilities to public services in Baku, Ganja and Guba-Khachmaz region – Cycle 25

Women and girls living with disabilities face intersecting forms of discrimination in Azerbaijan, especially regarding access to education and employment, and are consequently at heightened risks of violence (Asian Development Bank, 2019).

DWSA is a women-led organization of persons living with disabilities that works to empower and protect women living with disabilities, including refugees, internally displaced women and women survivors of war.

The project aims to improve accessibility and quality of public services for women and girls living with disabilities and belonging to the lowest income group in internally displaced persons settlements in the capital Baku, the city of Ganja and the Guba-Khachmaz region. It will work to reduce violence by empowering women living with disabilities, training public and local service providers on prevention and response measures, and raising community awareness.

Project strategies include: (1) providing seminars to empower women living with disabilities and their relatives with knowledge on better access and use of specialized public services and raising public awareness on understanding disabilities and violence against women and girls living with disabilities; (2) building the capacity and skills of public services and civil organization staff on ethical communication with women living with disabilities and developing relevant guidelines; (3) coordinating between key stakeholders to create local action plans to reduce violence against women living with disabilities in public places; and (4) raising public awareness about violence against women and girls with disabilities, including through community-based workshops and television and radio programmes.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Zena BiH - Initiative Title: Empowering Women for Transformed Communities – Cycle 27

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, gender-based violence (GBV) is a critical issue, particularly for marginalized women and girls, including survivors of domestic and conflict-related violence, women with disabilities, Roma women, and migrants. These groups face systemic discrimination and barriers to support. According to recent reports, 48% of women in the country have experienced some form of abuse, and a staggering 84% of these cases go unreported.[3]

Zena BiH is a dedicated advocate for women's rights, focused on empowering marginalized communities through grassroots initiatives and policy advocacy, positioning them to drive transformative change. Through these efforts, the initiative aims to create sustainable change, reduce violence prevalence, and empower over 300 marginalized women and girls, fostering a more equitable society in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This initiative’s dynamic approach includes: (1) Community needs assessments to identify forms of violence through local engagement; (2) Legislative compliance analysis to evaluate and amend laws while training legal professionals on gender discrimination; (3) Capacity-building programmes to develop gender sensitivity training and advocate for responsive policies; (4) Community engagement and education by facilitating workshops on violence prevention and vocational training; and (5) Impact assessment to evaluate the initiative and develop strategies that promote community ownership.

Foundation of Local Democracy - Project title: EmpowerHer: Strengthening the Response to Sexual Violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Cycle 26

Despite implementation of dedicated legal and criminal justice mechanisms addressing violence against women and girls (VAW/G), a recent UN Women brief shows that every second woman in Bosnia and Herzegovina has experienced some form of abuse, such as intimate partner violence, stalking or sexual harassment, since the age of 15. Most do not report the abuse to police due to fear of stigmatization.

Foundation of Local Democracy is a women-led women’s rights organization dedicated to promoting human’s rights and empowering civil society organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project aims to end sexual VAW/G, including Roma women and women and girls living with disabilities, in the cities of Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla, Mostar, Bijeljina, Modrica and Bihac in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will be co-implemented with Safe Network and the Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The project will be implemented through a range of interventions, including strengthening the capacity of all relevant professionals and in establishment an institutional response, the establishment of sexual violence referral centers and rape crisis centers, public campaigns and advocacy, and the development and adoption of a Protocol on prevention, protection, and treatment in cases of sexual violence against women at the national level of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Project activities include: (1) developing and disseminating the standardized Framework Protocol on prevention, protection against and treatment in cases of sexual violence against women; (2) establishing referral centres in local health institutions and crisis centres in shelters for women and girl survivors of sexual VAW/G in cooperation with governmental institutions and civil society organizations; (3) capacity building of service providers on sexual VAW/G prevention and response mechanisms; (4) and awareness-raising on sexual VAW/G prevention and referral mechanisms, including information sessions in rural communities and roundtables for media representatives.

Georgia

Consultation Centre for Women "Sakhli" - Project Title: Promoting and Protecting Women and Girls during Covid-19 crisis – Cycle 24

In Georgia, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in loss of employment, closure of childcare facilities and restriction of movement, all of which have disproportionally affected women. This has exposed women to greater risks of domestic violence, while there are challenges in accessing law enforcement structures, protection systems and essential services.

The project of Consultation Centre for Women "Sakhli" aims to reach women and girls in general as well as women and girlsurvivors of domestic and gender-based violence during the pandemic. It will be based in the capital Tbilisi, but will involve regional crisis centres in Zugdidi and Telavi (in west and east Georgia respectively) to support survivors and women at risk of violence. The project will be implemented in partnership with the local NGO Development and Engagement Platform and in close cooperation with the State Fund for Protection and Assistance of (Statutory) Victims of Human Trafficking (ATIP Fund).

The project will: (1) provide services to women and girls, including psycho-social rehabilitation, consultations, legal assistance and skills training; (2) raise awareness about domestic violence and violence against women and girls among adolescents and the general public; and (3) conduct advocacy directed at service providers and institutions for the introduction and application of supervisory standards.

Kosovo(UN Administered Territory under UN Security Council Resolution 1244)

Medica Gjakova - Project Title: Empower and improve your life – Cycle 25

Kosovo (UN Administered Territory under UN Security Council Resolution 1244) is one of the poorest countries in Europe, with an average unemployment rate of 26% in 2020, according to World Bank estimates. Women and girls, especially survivors of sexual violence inflicted during the 1998 - 1999 war, suffer from the long-term consequences of the conflict in terms of economic insecurity and access to justice and public health-care services when they do not have the verified status of survivors of war-time sexual violence.

Medica Gjakova works to provide services to women survivors of violence through psychosocial and gynaecological counselling and ensuring women’s participation in social and political life. It is one of four licensed non-governmental organizations helping women to apply for recognition of their legal status.

The project aims to reach around 1,000 women and girls by providing comprehensive services for survivors as well as employment possibilities in agriculture and artisan fields.

The project will: (1) empower survivors of violence through trauma-sensitive psychosocial counselling; (2) ensure survivors have gynaecological visits and examinations; (3) increase knowledge on women’s rights and the challenges faced by survivors of sexual violence; (4) improve access to justice, rehabilitation and reintegration for survivors of sexual violence; and (5) economically empower survivors.

Medica Kosova - Project Title: Women's organizations and institutions provide social protection and justice with survivor-centred and trauma-based approach – Cycle 25

Survivors of sexual violence related to the 1998-99 war remain stigmatized, and a culture of shame and silence surrounds the issue. Medica Kosova is a women’s rights organization dedicated to improving the physical and mental health and living conditions of women survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence during and after the war, regardless of their ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.

The project aims to improve access of women survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, sexual violence and intimate partner violence to specialized services in the cities of Gjakova, Deqani, Rahovec, Dragash and Pejam. The project will address the knowledge gap in institutions and service providers on trauma related to sexual and intimate partner violence, and provide legal counselling for survivors. The project will also address the specific needs of women survivors belonging to the Albanian, Roma, Ashkalinj and Egyptian communities.

Project strategies include: (1) providing group awareness sessions for women survivors of violence regarding legislation and services; (2) empowering and supporting women survivors to seek recognition of their status, report the violence and assert their rights; (3) strengthening coordination and cooperation with women's organizations and gender focal points to share the specific needs of women survivors for support services and improved institutional response; and (4) training selected institutions and organizations on survivor-centred and trauma-informed approaches to provide adequate services, protection and justice to victims of conflict-related sexual violence and survivors of sexual and domestic violence.

In 2018, Medica Kosova implemented a UN Trust Fund-supported project to develop awareness of the Istanbul Convention among women’s organizations and strengthen their monitoring capacity and reporting mechanisms.

Kosova - Women 4 Women - Project Title: Together Building Resilience – Cycle 24

Women 4 Women aims to improve access to information, multi-sectoral response services and economic and networking opportunities for marginalized women and girls at increased risk of violence as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project will work in six municipalities – Drenas, Lipjan, Shterpce, Skenderaj, Podujeve and Ferizaj – three of which have the highest incidence of violence against women and girls in Kosovo (under UN SCR 1244 (1999)), and three of which have a high incidence of violence against women and girls in rural areas. The projects aims to reach 570 women and girls, 120 women and girl survivors of violence and 50 “change agents”. It will also engage with civil society organizations, community-based groups and government officials.

To achieve its goals, the project intends to: (1) improve women’s awareness of how to identify and report violence against women and girls, and of available services and legal measures against such violence; 2) improve policies of the six local governments to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic; 3) amplify representation of the needs and voices of women from the six localities through women “change agents”; and 4) build the resilience of women who have survived or are at risk of violence through access to information, networking and socio-economic and psycho-social support.

Kyrgyzstan

Public Association Union of People with Disabilities Ravenstvo - Initiative Title: No Violence Against Women and Girls with Disabilities – Cycle 27

In Kyrgyzstan, women and girls with disabilities, totaling approximately 102,000 registered individuals, face pervasive violence and discrimination, often inflicted by those closest to them. This marginalized group endures multiple forms of violence—including domestic, psychological, economic, and sexual abuse—compounded by intersecting factors of vulnerability. The initiative targets survivors aged 18 to 65 from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, aiming to address a critical gap in support services. These individuals frequently lack accessible resources and encounter significant obstacles in seeking help and justice, underscoring the urgent need for focused intervention.

The Public Association Union of People with Disabilities "Ravenstvo," a disability women-led organization, is dedicated to empowering over 280 women with disabilities across Kyrgyzstan. With a focus on peer support and advocacy, Ravenstvo addresses the unique challenges these women face. The initiative includes: (1) Peer counseling to build self-confidence and resilience; (2) Training programs on life skills, violence prevention, and response strategies; (3) Vocational training to promote economic independence; (4) Financial literacy and leadership workshops; (5) Professional training for police, healthcare workers, and legal professionals to enhance responses to violence against women with disabilities; and (6) Advocacy to strengthen legal frameworks and contribute to an alternative CEDAW report.

North Macedonia

Roma Women and Youth Association “LULUDI” - Project Title: Support for Roma women and girls on combating gender-based violence – Cycle 25

Roma women face intersecting forms of violence and discrimination, often based on stereotypes of the Romani community. Those living in rural communities with little financial independence tend to be at higher risk of violence and lack the means to seek support services. The situation has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roma Women and Youth Association "Luludi”, a women’s rights, women-led organization, works to improve Roma women’s status in cooperation with other organizations and institutions at the local, national and international levels. It focuses on promoting their human and socio-economic rights, promoting full inclusion and gender equality, ending all forms of violence against women and girls, and ending discrimination and prejudice against Roma women.

The project aims to reduce gender-based violence among young girls and women from the Roma community and other marginalized groups, and to improve their access to services and protection mechanisms in North Macedonia. It aims to reach 240 Roma women and girls living in eight local municipalities of North Macedonia.

The project will: (1) improve support services for Roma and marginalized women and girl survivors or at risk of violence; (2) improve joint advocacy efforts with local civil society organizations to end violence against Roma and marginalized women and girls; and (3) improve the legal framework, develop policy papers and develop the capacity of activists.

Republic of Moldova

HelpAge International - Project Title: Preventing violence against older women in Moldova: Age inclusive support for older women survivors and those at risk – Cycle 25

While all women face gender inequality and discrimination, older women in Moldova face double discrimination (triple for older women living with disabilities) on account of gender and ageism. Deeply rooted prejudices and stereotypes about older people fuel violence against them. Additionally, services and protection systems in Moldova are frequently focused on young girls and mothers and tailored to their needs.

HelpAge International is a civil society organization focused on promoting older people’s welfare and rights so they can live healthy, safe and dignified lives, free from violence and abuse. The Moldova country team has longstanding and mutually supportive relations with key stakeholders and the government.

The project will seek to prevent all forms of violence against older women in Moldova through activities organized at the individual, community and institutional levels. It will work to ensure that older women are no longer excluded from services and protection mechanisms, and increase awareness on the prevention of violence against older women. Women’s voices will inform and help design project activities.

Project strategies include: (1) forming community self-help groups; (2) building capacity and raising awareness at the institutional and community levels, and of partner civil society organizations and volunteer initiative groups; (3) campaigning and advocating locally and nationally; and (4) organizing activities that directly respond to the survivors.

In 2017, HelpAge International received funding from the UN Trust Fund for a project to respond to the needs of older women survivors of violence.

Serbia

Labris - Initiative Title: Breaking the Chains of LBTQ Partner Violence – Cycle 27

In Serbia, LBTQ women face persistently high levels of violence and discrimination, with limited access to essential support services and minimal institutional response. Approximately 20% of respondents in a study on violence within lesbian relationships reported experiencing physical violence. LBTQ women often endure physical abuse from their partners, with 30% of respondents reported experiencing sexual violence within their relationships.

Labris, a constitution-led LGBTQI+ rights organization, with 30 years of experience is launching a transformative initiative to address these gaps, reaching over 240 individuals and expanding crucial services beyond Belgrade into underserved regions. By increasing violence reporting and restoring trust in state institutions, this initiative aims to create a safer and more supportive environment for LBTQ women across Serbia, laying the groundwork for sustained, systemic change.

Labris’ initiative includes: (1) Empowering 100 LBTQ women through educational sessions on recognizing, preventing, and reporting violence; (2) Providing specialized training for police, social workers, prosecutors, and civil society organizations to improve responses to partner violence within the LBTQ community; (3) Running impactful public awareness campaigns to engage the general public and reach potential survivors; (4) Conducting in-depth research to inform policy recommendations for strengthening institutional responses to domestic violence; and (5) Establishing an SOS hotline to deliver urgent, life-saving support to survivors.

Roma Women Center Bibija - Project title: Roma women’s activism against child marriages in Serbia – Cycle 26

In Serbia, up to 92% of Roma women have experienced some type of physical or sexual violence as adults and 17% of Roma girls are married before the age of 15, according to a 2019 UN Women report. Roma women also suffer high levels of poverty and marginalization. Survivors usually do not report violence to formal services due to normalization of violence and limited availability of services. 

Roma Women Center Bibija is a constituent-led women’s rights organization dedicated to the realization of Roma women’s rights and the improvement of their socio-economic situation in Serbia. The project aims to reduce the prevalence of child marriage and protect girls’ rights in Roma neighbourhoods in 10 municipalities (Bujanovac, Vranje, Leskovac, Kruševac, Pirot, Kostolac, Belgrade’s Zvezdara, Zrenjanin, Pančevo and Žabalj) and to improve the implementation of existing legal frameworks and regulations in Serbia.

Project activities include: (1) empowerment workshops for Roma adolescent girls on women's rights and child marriage prevention and referral mechanisms; (2) capacity building of local feminist coalition members and Roma women’s network activists on child marriage prevention, response mechanisms and administrative skills; (3) multi-stakeholder coordination and roundtables to foster peer-to-peer learning and collective action; and (4) awareness-raising on child marriage prevention and referral mechanisms, including organizing community discussions and disseminating advocacy campaigns.

Association of Roma Women Osvit (Osvit) - Project Title: Roma women leaders in the fight for a society without gender-based violence – Cycle 25

In Serbia, up to 92% of Roma women have experienced some type of physical or sexual violence since the age of 18, according to a 2019 UN Women report. Roma women also suffer from high levels of unemployment, difficult living conditions, poverty and marginalization. In addition, survivors of violence usually do not report violence to formal services due to normalization of violence and limited unavailability of services.

Osvit is a women-led, women’s rights organization in Serbia. Through educational, economic, social, psychological and legal support, it works to empower women to break the cycle of violence and to educate, inform and encourage citizen activism to reduce violence and discrimination against women, especially Roma women. Osvit also aims to influence policies and train the public sector to better respond to violence against women and girls.

Project strategies include: (1) organizing informative and educational workshops on violence and discrimination; (2) providing individual or group psychological support; (3) representing women free of charge in institutions, in court and in criminal proceedings, and offering legal counselling; (4) raising the awareness of state institution employees to improve the quality of services provided to Roma women; (5) strengthening the capacity of activists through seminars and raising awareness of Roma women’s activism and violence against women; (6) organizing a national conference on Roma women leaders and gender-based violence; and (7) publishing research analysis and recommendations to improve local services.

Center for Support of Women - Project Title: The Path to Recovery: Improving the services for victims of sexual violence in Vojvodina – Cycle 25

Although considerable efforts have been made, including ratification of the Istanbul Convention, gender-based violence remains widespread in Serbia, especially against marginalized women and girls (Roma women, women living with disabilities, rural women and others). According to a 2019 survey, 34% of women aged 18-74 had experienced intimate partner physical and/or sexual violence. Support services for survivors of violence are insufficient or not accessible.

The Center for Support of Women is a women-led, women’s rights organization dedicated to gender equality and ending all forms of discrimination and violence against women in Serbia by nurturing women’s leadership, entrepreneurship and creativity.

The project will use a multisectoral approach with various stakeholders to improve access of women and girls to support services, especially for marginalized women and girls, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The project will work to ensure continuous, comprehensive and specialized support services in the Centres for Victims of Sexual Violence.

Project strategies include: (1) improving survivor-centred health and psychosocial support services for women and girl survivors of sexual violence, including those suffering intersecting vulnerabilities; (2) organizing interviews, focus groups, support groups and self-help groups to hear directly from women and girls; (3) increasing counsellors’ knowledge and skills on human rights and feminist principles in service delivery within the Centres for Victims of Sexual Violence; (4) increasing the capacity, knowledge and sensitization of professionals from relevant institutions; and (5) focusing on service delivery cooperation.

Udruženje Roma Novi Bečej - Project Title: Roma girls and women against pandemic of violence and exclusion from VAW protection mechanisms – Cycle 24

Udruženje Roma Novi Bečej (Novi Bečej Roma Association) is a feminist organization that works to empower Roma women and women from other minorities in Vojvodina Province to live free of violence. Its project aims to ensure that Roma and other disadvantaged women and girls – including survivors of domestic violence, women with disabilities and lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer women – can access multi-sectoral services essential for their safety, protection and recovery from gender-based and sexual violence.

The project aims to: (1) inform and support Roma and disadvantaged women and girls to enable them to leave a situation of violence or avoid child/early marriage, including providing improved SOS Helpline services; (2) strengthen local institutional response mechanisms to violence against women and girls; (3) increase the accessibility of services for girls who are victims of child marriage; (4) raise awareness about the risks of child/early marriage; and (5) strengthen institutional competences to prevent and respond to sexual violence against girls.

Tajikistan

Public Organization Office for Initiative Development - Project title: Effective partnership of authorities and civil society organizations for capacity building of the local community to prevent violence against women and girls in two regions of Tajikistan - Cycle 26

Despite the introduction of national legal mechanisms to reduce violence against women and girls (VAW/G) in the last decade, spousal abuse occurs in approximately one-third of all marriages in Tajikistan.

Public Organization Office for Initiative Development is a women-led, youth/girl civil society organization that empowers young people and women in Tajikistan. The project aims to foster collective action to prevent and end VAW/G by providing specialist support to survivors and by enhancing the effective implementation of dedicated legislation through the establishment of partnerships between local authorities and women’s rights organizations in the Sughd and Khatlon regions in Tajikistan.

Project activities include: (1) training of women and girl survivors of VAW/G on women’s rights and VAW/G prevention and referral mechanisms, and implementing business mentoring programmes for women and girls at risk or survivors of violence; (2) capacity building of civil society organization staff and government representatives on VAW/G prevention and response mechanisms and organizing multi-stakeholder meetings to foster peer-to-peer learning and collective action; (3) awareness-raising on VAW/G prevention and referral mechanisms, including by establishing “safety at home” community information corners, organizing community working groups, and disseminating advocacy campaigns; and (4) producing analytical notes, including recommendations for implementing coordinated local VAW/G prevention and response mechanisms.

Public Organization Women's Center "Gulrukhsor" - Project Title: Helping families with disabilities lead lives with less violence against women – Cycle 24

In Tajikistan, women living with disabilities and caring for those with disabilities face severe discrimination and are at a high risk of domestic violence and economic hardship stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic,

The Public Organization Women's Center "Gulrukhsor" is aiming to help women with disabilities and women caring for those with disabilities gain a more positive self-identity and are empowered to live without violence. The project aims to benefit 150 women from the Uzbek ethnic minority population of northern Tajikistan, 150 women with disabilities and 345 women and girls caring for people with disabilities.

The project aims to: (1) improve the ability of health professionals and police to identify women suffering from or at risk of violence and know where they should refer them to; (2) improve attitudes of family members; (3) create further safe spaces to engage in dialogue and discussion, including through “family social norm changes” workshops and workshops involving women survivors or at risk of violence; and (4) strengthen the capacity of police and health workers.

Turkiye

Amal Healing and Advocacy Center - Project title: Hand in Hand to End Violence against Women – Cycle 26

As of February 2023, over 3.5 million Syrian under temporary protection were registered in Türkiye, nearly 46% of them women and girls. Despite well-established frameworks for assistance for foreigners, the COVID-19 pandemic and devastating earthquakes drastically heightened the demand for social support, including by growing numbers of women reporting domestic violence and Syrians reporting increased cases of early and forced marriages in their communities. Consequently, many struggle to access services and information, and or do not receive any assistance.

Amal Healing and Advocacy Center is a constituent-led women’s rights organization dedicated to work with and for Syrian women and girls to advocate, network and empower them to achieve gender equality in human rights and social justice. The project aims to empower Syrian women and girls in Türkiye to prevent violence against women and girls (VAW/G) and child marriage in host communities in Gaziantep and Hatay region.

Project activities include: (1) providing improved access to essential, specialized and safe services for women and girl survivors of sexual gender-based violence, including a dedicated hotline, legal and psychological assistance, and case management services; (2) selecting and training women mobilizers on VAW/G and child marriage prevention and referral mechanisms so they can create and lead community groups; and (3) awareness-raising on VAW/G and child marriage prevention and referral mechanisms, including by disseminating community-led advocacy campaigns and publishing media articles.

Ukraine

Insight - Initiative Title: Improving the Access of Women from Marginalized Groups to Comprehensive Support Services During the War – Cycle 27

In war-torn Ukraine, marginalized women, including LGBTQI+ individuals, internally displaced persons (IDPs), women with disabilities, and single mothers, face heightened risks of gender-based violence (GBV), sexual abuse, and mental health crises. Their vulnerability is exacerbated by the breakdown of social services and displacement, putting them at critical risk in war-affected regions. According to a recent report, more than 1.5 million women and girls in Ukraine are expected to be impacted by GBV, with 40% of these women likely to experience sexual violence during displacement.[4]

Insight, a leading LGBTIQ+ organization in Ukraine, has a track record of advocating for marginalized groups. With their extensive expertise in crisis response and deep community connections, Insight is uniquely positioned to provide life-saving psychological and legal support across the most vulnerable regions of Ukraine. By reaching over 10,000 women, this initiative will deliver critical psychological, legal, and emotional support, improve access to justice, and foster long-term resilience. Survivors will regain stability through trauma-informed services, while community engagement efforts will heighten awareness of GBV and offer essential tools for recovery and reintegration.

This initiative’s approach includes: (1) Creating safe spaces and shelters in western Ukraine for at-risk women, providing them with immediate refuge; (2) Deploying specialized teams offering trauma-informed psychological support to women affected by the war; (3) Providing legal assistance to help survivors document their experiences and seek justice; (4) Delivering training for lawyers and mental health professionals to enhance their capacity for trauma-informed care; and (5) Organizing community events that focus on self-care, empowerment, and vocational training, including art therapy, fitness, and job search workshops.

Club Eney - Project title: Women with intersecting marginalizations initiating new goals of safety in Ukraine – Cycle 26

Description: A Rapid Gender Analysis by UN Women and partners revealed that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has put women and girls at increased risk of conflict-related sexual violence and gender-based violence. An estimated 3.6 million people will need prevention and response services, while accessing health care, including sexual and reproductive health care, and social services is increasingly challenging due to security concerns, the damaged health-care infrastructure, restricted mobility, and broken referral and supply chains.

Club Eney is a constituent-led and community-based women’s rights organization that works to improve the health of communities at highest risk of marginalization and violence in Ukraine. The project aims to adapt the organization’s Women Initiating New Goals of Safety (WINGS) methodology (an evidence-based intervention) to protect and empower women and girls at highest risk of violence, including women who use drugs, women living with HIV/affected by AIDS, female military officers, internally displaced women, and self-identified sex-workers, in 16 war-torn regions of Ukraine.

Project activities include: (1) implementing the war-adapted WINGS methodology to prevent and end violence against women and girls (VAW/G), including by training facilitators and providing information to women and girls at highest risk or survivors of violence; (2) developing and implementing a coordinated referral programme for women and girls to access VAW/G and HIV prevention and response mechanisms; (3) training and mentoring women and girls at the highest risk or survivors of violence on advocacy, crisis response, storytelling and safety skills; and (4) advocacy for inclusion of WING methodology in local programmes and budgets.

In 2019, Club Eney received a grant from the UN Trust Fund to implement a project focusing on improving access for at-risk women to essential, safe and adequate services, and raising awareness about gender-based violence in communities.

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[1] UN Women. (2020). Gender Equality Facility in Albania: Consolidated baseline report. Retrieved from https://eca.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Field%20Office%20Albania/Attachments/Publications/2020/12/CGEB%20Albania_REPORT_1.pdf

[2] UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. (2022). Supporting survivors of violence against women and girls in post-war Armenia. Retrieved from https://untf.unwomen.org/en/stories/news/2022/07/supporting-survivors-of-violence-against-women-and-girls-in-post-war-armenia

[3] OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. (n.d.). Urgent call to action: Eradicating gender-based violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Retrieved from https://www.osce.org/mission-to-bosnia-and-herzegovina/550003

[4] UN Women. (2023). Policy brief: Gender-responsive recovery and reconstruction in Ukraine (Long version). Retrieved from https://ukraine.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2023-09/policy_brief_recovery_long_version_sept_2023.pdf

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