The Fourth Regional Forum on Ending Violence against Women, titled “Integrated Policies, Inclusive Partnerships,” will start on 29 November. It will build on the momentum and progress from the last five years and set the stage for continued achievements toward ending violence against women in the region. The event is organised by UN Women and convened jointly with the Council of Europe, the European Union, and the national women’s structures of the Western Balkans.

The Regional Forum is the only regular mechanism gathering key stakeholders in the Western Balkans for ending violence against women (VAW). This year’s Forum will address issues related to the establishment of femicide watches – femicide monitoring mechanisms – at national and regional levels, including by examining the strategies and challenges of those established elsewhere in Europe and across the world. The event will also focus on strengthening alliances, networks and platforms throughout the region and locally, advancing cooperation between women’s organisations and healthcare providers, and examining challenges and opportunities in strengthening referral mechanisms at local and national levels.

The Regional Forum will feature a mix of plenary and groupwork sessions on the above-mentioned thematic areas to enable insightful discussions. Experts from the region and beyond will present evidence-based analysis and lead discussions in order to agree on the methods and approaches for implementing interventions towards ending VAW in the Western Balkans and Türkiye.