Donor: The Sigrid Rausing Trust

Project duration: June 2021 – May 2022.

Key activities/outputs:

1. Women survivors of violence empowered to live free of violence - Providing psychosocial support and legal aid to women who survived violence; Strengthening knowledge, cooperation and wellbeing of AWC’s service providers; Promoting AWC’s support services.

2. Capacities of women’s movement built and awareness of media and youth regarding violence against women raised -  joint advocacy activities, project partnerships, training program with WCSOs at local, regional or international level; Cooperation with media; Raising awareness on different forms of on gender-based violence (GBV) among young people.

3. Institutional framework for the protection of women from violence improved in line with international high standards and obligations -  reporting regarding monitoring of reforms and implementation of international standards in relation to prevention, protection and suppression of violence against women; submitting policy proposal and proposals for the amendments of the law; Developing new training programs for professionals in institutions and conducting at least trainings, meetings, consultations and support for professionals in institutions, CSO’s and students from relevant professions.

4. AWC’s programme, financial and political autonomy and sustainability strengthened. - Improving AWC working conditions and safety in the office; Diversification of the fundraising.

Donor: Kvinna till Kvinna

Project duration: January 2021 – December 2023

Project objective: Increased prioritisation of women’s human rights by governments in the EU accession process through participation of women’s organisations.

Key activities/outputs

1. Monitoring the implementation of international standards by AWC, and a promotional campaign (internet and social media): Regional (WB) campaign dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence; Preparation of comments/reports on the implementation of international obligations; Policy analysis of sexual and reproductive rights and women’s health (education sector);
2. Regular policy proposals and law amendments, through policy dialogue between decision-makers, with active participation of media and citizens - areas: Discrimination and gender equality; Suppression and prevention of GBV; Social protection and support for women; Sexual and reproductive rights and education;
3. Monitoring reforms under Chapter 23 and Ch.19 by AWC in partnership with the prEUgovor coalition and other relevant CSOs: Monitoring the implementation of the AP for Chapters 23 and 24 (2 semi-annual reports; 2 press conferences and 2 meetings with the EU Delegation in Serbia and with representatives of embassies of EU member states); Monitoring the implementation of the AP for Chapter 19 (reports and announcements);
4. Strengthening the internal capacities of AWC members (especially the consulting team): Supervisory support to the AWC consulting team; at least 4 lectures whit external experts; at least 3 lectures whit internal expert.

Donor: Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Project duration: November 2020 – January 2024

Partner organizations: medica mondiale (Germany), medica Zenica, Vive Žene (Bosnia and Hercegovina), medica Gjakova, Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (Kosovo), Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Women in Black (Serbia)

Project goal: Creating a culture of recognition and reconciliation in the Western Balkans for women survivors of war related SGBV to live in dignity and free from violence

Outcomes of the project:

1. The topic of war related SGBV is reflected in political debates and curricula
2. Improved laws and procedures for compensation mechanisms
3. Improved court procedures
4. Likeminded feminist women's organisations are recognised as experts in political national and regional reconciliation processes

Donors: Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands.

Project name: Effective policies and unified practice in support and protection of domestic violence survivors.

Project duration: Jul 2020 – Jul 2022.

Project goal: The aim of the project proposal is to contribute to the full implementation of the legal framework and improved institutional practice related to protection of domestic violence survivors.

Project objectives: clearly formulated proposals for improvement of the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence and other laws aimed at protection of DV through monitoring their implementation and identifying gaps; increased readiness of decision makers to review and adopt necessary changes; increased knowledge and understanding of 300 professionals on adequate response on the needs of survivors of violence; increasing effectiveness of 150 professionals in protection of DV victims in individual cases.

Basic information about the project: the project aims to provide comprehensive response to problems recognised during the implementation of the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence. Mapping the gaps and challenges in implementation will lead to consultations with experts in the field and deliverance of recommendations for relevant decision makers. Beside policy level, activities consider support to practitioners in charge for implementation of the law. Guidelines and training will be developed and delivered to professionals. First and last instance are beneficiaries (women and their children, victims of violence) who are most relevant to point on the problems in implementation of the law and to whom support will be provided while addressing institutions, to secure their safety and security, rights and needs.

Duration of the project: 36 months

The Project is funded by: Austrian Development Agency

Partner organizations in this project are the Albanian Women’s Empowerment Network and Gender Alliance for Development Centre (Albania), Kosovo Women’s Network (Kosovo), United Women Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina), National Network against Violence against Women (North Macedonia), Women’s Rights Centre (Montenegro).

The main goal of this project is to contribute to the improvement of the secondary legislation/programs and institutionalization of quality support services (rehabilitation and integration) for survivors of GBV.

Expected results:

1. Women supported in leaving violent environments and becoming more autonomous.
2. Quality evidence-based proposals for secondary legislation and programs for assisting survivors put forth.
3. Improved skills of service providers towards increased safety/security of survivors.
4. Strengthened and formalised regional network for addressing violence against women in line with EU standards.

To achieve these objectives and results following main groups of activities are planned:

• Providing support services (psychosocial and legal support).
• Submitting proposals for the improvement of secondary legislation and programs for assisting survivors to responsible parties.
• Providing education for service providers (institutions and NGOs).
• Strengthening regional network for addressing violence against women.

Target group – women and their children survivors of GBV, professionals from relevant institutions and CSOs in the Western Balkan.

Activities and results of the Project will contribute to the full implementation of the Istanbul Convention (Chapter 4 – Protection and Support) in each country. The partners will use the outputs of the previous regional project Coordinated efforts – Toward new European standards in protection of women from gender-based violence to further monitor the implementation of the Istanbul Convention. Established indicators for monitoring of the provision of the Istanbul Convention will be updated and used to measure progress towards full implementation of the Convention in the region.

Donors: OAK Foundation

Project name: Core support

Project duration: April 2018 – April 2021

Project objectives: empowering women for ending violence and recovery from violence trauma through available, sustainable and improved psychosocial and legal services of AWC; policies to combat violence against women at the national and local levels are in line with international standards (UN, CoE and EU); affirming women’s rights through empowered women’s movement, new alliances, improved visibility and understanding of violence against women issues in media and general public; empowered organizational capacities.

Basic information about the project: by 2021, the Autonomous Women’s Center works on direct support to women victims of violence, spreading women’s support and solidarity and advocates and monitors the adoption, promotion and consistent application of relevant national policies and instruments in the area of violence against women, which are comprehensive, relevant, specific, effective and efficient. At the same time, the Autonomous Women's Center is devoted to the survival of public and activist’s spaces of resistance to nationalism, patriarchy and authoritarian governing.