OSCE project on effective criminal justice strategies and practices to combat gender-based violence in Eastern Europe launched in Vienna

An OSCE project to support criminal justice systems in Eastern Europe in their fight against gender-based violence, developed by the Strategic Police Matters Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD/SPMU), was launched on 20 and 21 September 2018 in Vienna.

The project, Effective Criminal Justice Strategies and Practices to Combat Gender-based Violence in Eastern Europe, addresses all criminal justice system actors (police, prosecutors and judges) at all levels (senior management, mid-level management and first responders) who are involved in combating gender-based violence in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania. It also addresses civil society organizations, social workers and academia.

National steering committees, working groups and reference groups will be established in all three countries in order to secure local ownership and engagement of high-level managers. This will be followed by regional train-the-trainer courses and awareness-raising activities, targeting both criminal justice actors and civil society.

“Gender-based violence knows no social or economic boundaries and damages individuals of all socio-economic backgrounds,” said the Director of the Office of the OSCE Secretary General, Paul Bekkers. “All participating States are affected by this crime and should take concrete measures to address it at all levels. We stand ready to assist in their endeavours to fight gender-based violence and to protect potential victims.”

The representatives of the European Union Delegation to the International Organizations in Vienna said that this project is particularly interesting because it addresses not only criminal justice responses to gender-based violence but also those by other groups, including civil society.

These responses are crucial because they determine whether the victim chooses to pursue legal action or withdraws accusations due to fear of secondary victimization. “By targeting not only criminal justice practitioners but also civil society and risk groups, the project ensures a comprehensive approach to gender-based violence,” said Ambassador Ioannis Vrailas, Permanent Representative of the European Union to the OSCE.

Participants stressed that more attention and resources should be dedicated to fighting gender-based violence as this type of violence continues to occur at disturbingly high rates, in the entire OSCE area as well as at the global level. According to the World Health Organization, one in three women worldwide experiences physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

The launch event gathered representatives of all three beneficiary countries, the Institute of Police Education at the Linnaeus University of Sweden, the OSCE Gender Section and the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, offering the opportunity to discuss project activities and expected results.

The project is funded by the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020) and Austria.