Kvinna till Kvinna supports women’s rights organisations in Europe. We have offices in Belgrade, Sarajevo and Skopje.
The conflict in Ukraine has been ongoing since 2014, with the first 8 years including the Russian annexation of Crimea, and the war in Donbas. On February 24th 2022 Russia initiated the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and since then on-ground and air strikes have terrorised the citizens of the country, resulting in devastating numbers of killed and injured civilians, and millions of internally displaced persons.
The Western Balkans region provides a tough context: it is marred by rising nationalism, corruption and low public trust. Speaking up here can be dangerous: many activists face violent opposition.
Together with our partners, we prevent gender-based violence and support victims and survivors. We advocate for peace, reconciliation and minority rights. We work to ensure gender mainstreaming is part of countries’ road to EU membership.
We also have our head office based in Stockholm, and an office in Brussels focused on EU Advocacy (on all our programme countries and themes globally, including those in Europe). In Sweden, we run a leadership training for young women with a migration background who live or work in suburbs where there are problems with segregation, crime and insecurity.
The end of the war in Former Yugoslavia left Bosnia and Herzegovina ethnically divided and unstable. The country's women's movement promotes peace, reconciliation and gender equality, and advocates for redress for victims/survivors of violence.
Despite Kosovo's ongoing dispute with Serbia and recurring ethnic tensions, Kosovo's women's movement has booked remarkable successes. It has united women across ethnic lines and achieved recognition for victims/survivors of wartime sexual violence.
Political changes in 2017 provided new opportunities to put women’s rights on the agenda of North Macedonia’s EU accession process. Our partners combat gender-based violence, support peacebuilding efforts and increase women’s political participation.
Serbia is characterised by a troubled wartime past, strong nationalism and tension with Kosovo. As women's rights receive little attention, our partners continue combatting domestic violence, supporting victims/survivors and promoting peacebuilding.
In Sweden, we run a leadership training course for young women with a migration background who live or work in suburbs where there are problems with segregation, crime and insecurity. Read more on our Swedish website »
We support organisations focusing on the needs and rights of diverse women, including LBTQI women and women with disabilities.
– Ristin Thomasson, Regional Manager for the Western Balkans
Women’s demonstration on 8 March in Skopje, Macedonia. Photo: Emilija Dimoska / Kvinna till Kvinna
Since 2015, D.O.M.48.24 has supported internally displaced persons in Ukraine, later shifting to focus on preventing gender-based violence. Today, they run a daily crisis center, while combatting the stigma and challenges surrounding sexual and domestic violence.
1 October 2024
From bombings in Baghdad to refugee camps in Croatia, Lejla Somun carries multiple experiences from conflict-affected countries with her.
3 September 2024
The need to educate new generations of practitioners about women’s rights and gender equality, and how to best put the knowledge into practice, in line with fostering democracy and EU values in the Western Balkans persists.
16 July 2024
15 May 2024
23 February 2024
For many victims and survivors of gender-based violence, having access to a safe space and receiving psychological support is vital to help them move forward. In Grozdana Panić’s experience as a psychologist, the work to assist survivors throughout their process can be both challenging and fulfilling.
7 February 2024