EU-supported regional dialogue strengthens advocacy for women’s access to justice across the Eastern Neighbourhood
On 10 September, civil society organisations from Eastern Neighbourhood countries came together online for a regional dialogue on women’s access to justice, hosted by the EU4Gender Equality Reform Helpdesk – a project funded by the European Union (EU). The event brought together over 50 civil society advocates, legal practitioners and gender equality experts from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to address persistent barriers preventing women from accessing justice across the region.
Country-specific presentations highlighted both progress and challenges. While legislative frameworks have been enhanced to expand women’s access to justice, participants identified common barriers including the weak implementation of existing laws, judicial bias, limited access to legal aid, and the particular vulnerabilities experienced by groups living in marginalised situations, including rural women, ethnic minorities and LGBTQI+ individuals.
Participants identified strategic solutions during collaborative breakout sessions, developing targeted recommendations across key areas. For example, participants recommended bridging the gap between commitments on paper and women’s meaningful access to justice in practice through the effective implementation of laws. They also recommended delivering systematic training for all justice sector professionals on gender-sensitive approaches and establishing a civil society advocacy platform across Eastern Neighbourhood countries to coordinate campaigns, share data and develop joint recommendations.
The dialogue also showcased innovations worth replicating across the region, such as Ukraine’s implementation of survivor-centred approaches, Moldova’s Family Justice Centre model and advances in institutional strengthening; Armenia’s recent legislative amendments expanding protection measures, and the resilience of civil society organisations from Georgia and Belarus in developing reform concepts despite severe challenges.
The recommendations developed during the dialogue will directly inform the upcoming meeting of the Eastern Partnership Working Group on Gender Equality, ensuring that civil society voices reach national governments, EU Delegations and representatives of EU Member States. As political volatility and shrinking civic space continue to affect the Eastern Neighbourhood region, participants noted that initiatives like this dialogue provide vital platforms for knowledge sharing, solidarity building, and coordinated advocacy for gender justice and democratic resilience.
The regional dialogue is part of the EU4Gender Equality Reform Helpdesk project’s commitment to facilitating civil society engagement in reform processes and supporting grassroots actors to advance gender equality across the Eastern Neighbourhood region.
Learn more about the EU’s support for gender equality in the Eastern Neighbourhood region
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