Ending Violence Against Women in the Western Balkans and Turkey: Implemeting Norms, Changing Minds
Abstract
The three-year Programme, ‘Implementing Norms,
Changing Minds’ (Feb. 2017 - Jan. 2020) aimed at ending
gender-based discrimination and violence against
women and girls in the Western Balkans (Albania,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North
Macedonia, Serbia) and Turkey, with a particular focus
on the most disadvantaged groups of women. An
independent evaluation of the Programme was
conducted by Just Governance Group, with the aim to
provide systematic insights in the implementation
process and achieved results and to provide
recommendations for the second phase of the regional
Programme (Feb. 2020 - July 2021). The purpose of the
evaluation was to assess the achievement of results and
performance of the Programme; the specific objectives
(SO) included: i) identify and documented lessons
learned, good practices and innovations, success stories
and challenges; ii) identify strategies for replication and
up-scaling; iii) provide actionable recommendations for
future programme development and maximize
ownership by partners; and iv) assess the value added of
UN Women regional programming. The evaluation was
conducted in line with UN Women evaluation
standards, with the support of the Europe and Central
Asia (ECA) Regional Office of UN Women and with large
participation of various relevant stakeholders. The
evaluation applied OECD DAC1
evaluation criteria and is
aligned with United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG)
Norms and Standards for evaluation. The evaluation
covered the period from 1 February 2017 to 30 November
2019 while the evaluation process, from inception to
report submission, took place from July 2019 to January
2020.
Violence against women is highly prevalent in the
Western Balkans and in Turkey, in both public and
private spheres. This includes intimate partner and nonpartner violence as well as attacks on women politicians,
journalists or women performing public roles. The high
prevalence of violence indicates strong patriarchal
values backed by persistent discriminatory norms and
attitudes. Women from disadvantaged groups are at
greater risk of experiencing violence due to
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE EVALUATION
discrimination, poverty, low education level, and early
and forced marriage.