UN Women Transparency Portal

Region:Asia Pacific Current UN Women Plan Period Afghanisthan:2018-2022

World Bank Income Classification:Low Income

Least Developed Country:Yes

Gender Inequality Index:0.575

Gender Development Index:0.723

Population:209,497,025 Male:19,976,265 (9.5%) Female:189,520,760 (90.5%)

Disclaimer

outcome XM-DAC-41146-ECA_D_3.1

The implementation of the Istanbul Convention and CEDAW is promoted in Turkey and Western Balkan countries

The outcome was partially achieved during the reporting period. The Government of Turkiyewithdrew from the Istanbul Convention on 1 July 2021. The decision was deeply regretted by the UN Committee on CEDAW, the Council of Europe, and the European Union, among others. On the contrary to this development, tangible progress can be reported as the Western Balkan countries took important steps towards the implementation of the Convention within inter alia the framework of the EC funded programme "Implementing norms, changing minds." An enabling normative framework was further developed to bolster the effective implementation of the IC and the CEDAW for preventing and responding to violence thanks to the financial and technical support provided to civil society organisations, the advocacy and technical support provided to executive and legislative bodies. For example, in Albania, a new National Gender Equality Strategy (NSGE 2021-2030) was approved in July 2021, including a section on response to emergencies that encompass the work with perpetrators and allocates 50 percent of the funding to violence against women and girls (VAWG). Furthermore, the 2011 Decision of the Council of Ministers (DCM) on the functioning of coordinated referral mechanisms (CRM) was revised in June 2021 to reflect better the evolving context, challenges, and needs of women and girls and assigns more defined roles and responsibilities to its members. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) adopted the new Law on Protection from Domestic Violence on 27 July 2021. Additionally, the state Action Plan on Roma Inclusion 2021-2025 was revised to reflect the priorities of the Roma Women's Platform for prevention of violence against Roma Women. The Criminal Code was amended in Montenegro to introduce firmer sentences for child molesters and pedophiles and a pedophile registry. The government adopted the new National Strategy for Gender Equality 2021-2025 and its Action Plan in September 2021. In Serbia, the government adopted the National Strategy for Combating Gender-Based Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (2021-2025), aligned with the IC and the CEDAW (22 April 2021), and the Law on Amendments to the Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination (24 May 2021). The latest included a definition of indirect discrimination, the addition of sex characteristics, sexual harassment, segregation, and residential segregation as forms of discrimination, and an enhanced role for the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality. Finally, The Law on Gender Equality (24 May 2021) introduced the national gender machinery at the deputy prime minister's level and established the alimony fund. Moreover, throughout the Western Balkans and Turkiye, over 300 services providers from the police, social protection, and the justice sectors gained better knowledge on risk assessment in domestic violence cases. For instance, in Albania, there was a 98.2 percent increase in the number of risk assessment forms filled out by police officers; a nine percent increase in the number of preliminary emergency protection orders issued by the police; a 14 percent increase in the number of special medical reports issued by medical staff to survivors of violence (eight medical reports filled out) and a 12 percent increase in the number of pupils referred to the Child Protection Unit as suspected victims of violence. All these efforts led to a deeper understanding and awareness of violence and increased preventive and protective measures for women and girls at country level. More institutions and communities are shifting their perceptions towards gender equality and violence against women in the region through targeted initiatives using communications and social marketing tools that address VAW's specific behaviours. As a result of the regional campaign "Embracing positive masculinities to promote gender equality and end violence against women - Show that you are in the first league" the number of men who believed that men should have the final say in the household dropped by ten percent (59 percent); and number of men who strongly disagreed that real men are ready to engage in physical violence if that was the only solution increased by 20 percent. Based on the progress made to date, the original strategy and theory of change for this outcome is still applicable.

outcome XM-DAC-41146-ECA_D_3.2

Societal perceptions around gender stereotypes and patriarchal norms which limit women's rights are shifted

The outcome was not achieved in 2021. Harmful gender norms and stereotypes are widely prevalent in the countries covered by the EU4Gender Equality “Together against gender stereotypes and gender-based violence" (https://eca.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/eu-4-gender-equality) project funded by the European Union, implemented jointly by UN Women and UNFPA during 2021. However, some good progress was made towards increasing awareness of the target audiences in the project countries about gender equality and the benefits of a life free from gender stereotypes. 14 civil society organizations from six programme countries implemented small grant projects that suggested innovative solutions on shifting harmful gender norms and societal perceptions on the roles of women and men in different public spheres, including one in Armenia, one in Azerbaijan, one in Belarus, three in Moldova, four in Ukraine and four in Georgia. As a result of the implemented small grants project, around 3,000,000 persons in six countries gained an increased understanding of gender equality and gender stereotypes, and around 500 persons are now acting as local advocates to promote gender equality and non-discrimination. The small grant projects presented a variety of interventions, that applied different strategies and approaches to address harmful gender norms and stereotypes. To name a few – production of a short film about challenges of parenthood, implementing TikTok campaign and addressing gender-based discrimination in the universities in Ukraine, social theatre performances, awareness raising about issues faced by women with disabilities and career orientation for youth in Moldova, analysis of gender stereotypes in school textbooks, work with police and creative awareness raising campaign in Georgia, promotion of responsible fatherhood in Azerbaijan, hackathon to address gender-biased sex selection in Armenia and fighting stigma against women released from detention in Belarus. 12 more civil society organizations have been selected during 2021 and will receive grants in 2022 to implement new or continue implementation of the launched initiatives to address and shift harmful social norms and gender stereotypes in the six countries of the Eastern Partnership. UN Women supported this by designing and implementing annual regional calls for proposals for civil society organizations and NGOs from the Eastern Partnership countries. More than 10 million people in the six countries have been reached out to through a series of innovative communications campaigns on social media with messages of equality, elimination of harmful gender stereotypes in all public spheres, prevention of the violence against women and girls, and increasing men’s involvement in fatherhood. Some of the most prominent ones include the “It Can Be Done Differently – Without Stereotypes” online and offline campaign in Moldova than reached up to three million people. Crosswalks, billboards, videos, and an outdoor concert by young people shared messages of equality and explained that professions and household chores have no gender. The campaign will be continued under the project in 2022. In Ukraine, around six million young people were reached by “NoMoreGringe” TikTok campaign whereas in Georgia the number of people reached recorded more than 100,000 through the “Cutting Through Gender Stereotypes” campaign. The posters and videos with well-known Georgian actors reflected upon most common stereotypes that limit women’s and men’s opportunities in everyday life. Even though change in attitudes and perceptions is very difficult to achieve and measure over the course of three years, based on the progress made to date, the original strategy and the theory of change for this outcome is largely still applicable.

outcome XM-DAC-41146-ECA_D_3.3

Men are increasingly involved in the care taking of their children and engaged in fathers programmes

The outcome was partially achieved in 2021 with significant progress demonstrated. Men in the Eastern Partnership countries now have access to dynamic father-friendly spaces to practice skills, become more involved parents, build and maintain harmonious violence-free relationships. In 2021, 1,895 men already benefited from 19 “Fathers’ Schools” established in Armenia (2), Azerbaijan (3), Belarus (1), Georgia (2), Moldova (9) and Ukraine (2). The project EU 4 Gender Equality “Together against gender stereotypes and gender-based violence", funded by the European Union, implemented jointly by UN Women and UNFPA, contributed to this by producing four knowledge products that were further adapted and applied at the country level: Manual on Papa School, Resource and Training Packages on “Engaging Men during Pregnancy and Childbirth” and Compendium on Fatherhood Programmes. Based on the produced knowledge, around 30 partners from project countries and UNFPA country offices increased knowledge and understanding of the Fatherhood Programming and Engaging Men in Prenatal Care through a webinar facilitated by Promundo in February 2021. Around 2,400,000 people were reached by communications about the importance of men’s caretaking responsibilities in six project countries. Highlights of the project’s fatherhood interventions are summarized in the regional article. Around 306 health professionals and family center specialists in six programme countries have received knowledge and skills on engaging men during pregnancy and childbirth and on promoting active fatherhood during the capacity building workshops delivered by UNFPA based on the knowledge products produced by the regional project component and mentioned above. Based on the progress made to date, the original strategy and theory of change for this outcome remain applicable. If, as expected the strategy is successful, more men will be engaged during pregnancy and childbirth as well as will become engaged fathers in six project countries.

outcome XM-DAC-41146-ECA_D_3.4

Social workers (mediators) and CSOs have increased knowledge and tools to conduct evidence-based violence prevention programmes for perpetrators of domestic violence, and are using new skills

The outcome was partially achieved as the initial activities started in November 2021. However, there is some progress made. Partnership with the European Network for the Work with Perpetrators of domestic violence (WWP) has been established to produce contextualized regional guidance on working with perpetrators and early prevention based on evidence-based good practices from European countries. The methodology for the analytical exercise and the outline of the regional guidance have been developed and cleared by the established Peer Review Group. The regional guidance will be further used by the country offices to revise existing or develop new programmes for perpetrators of domestic violence once concluded in May 2022. In the meantime, a comprehensive assessment of the national perpetrators’ response mechanism was conducted in Ukraine. The assessment will feed into and inform the regional guidance, since it provides deep insights and analysis of the existing perpetrators programmes in Ukraine as well as provides some recommendations with regards to which services/programmes for violence perpetrators are most feasible and cost-effective in the context of Ukraine. In Georgia, 90 behaviour correction program facilitators (30 from penitentiary institutions, 30 from probation system and 30 psychologists and social workers) have benefited from capacity building activities that covered the theoretical background of the positive masculinity work; gender transformative approaches; work with men by providing practical tools on deconstructing harmful gender constructs, improving emotional self-control, preventing violence/controlling behaviour and promoting men’s caregiving. A desk review of the existing international standards and best practices of perpetrator rehabilitation programs, particularly in EU countries, was commissioned by UN Women Georgia. The desk review implies an analysis of the Georgian perpetrator behavioral correction programme vis-à-vis the international standards and best practices. The desk-review provided extensive input for the analysis of existing legislation and policies regulating the delivery of the perpetrator rehabilitation programmes within the probation and penitential systems of Georgia. The analysis identifies gaps, challenges and needs to ensure increased access to the programmes and their smooth implementation. The analysis has been used as a basis for development of a roadmap for implementation of the perpetrator’s programmes and a package of legislative amendments. The original strategy and theory of change for this outcome remain applicable. If the strategy is successful, a regional framework for development of community-based behavioural and attitude change programmes to be delivered by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will become available.

outcome XM-DAC-41146-ECA_D_6.1

Governments and civil society in ECA are able to monitor, report and advocate on progress in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Istanbul Convention, WPS resolutions and other international frameworks to advance GEWE.

The outcome was not fully achieved, however significant progress was made and grounded on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, +25 review results in 2019-2020. In 2021, a solid increase in political will and commitment for gender equality and women’s empowerment was observed both at the regional and country levels ensured with the help of the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) conducted in 2021 (Mexico, 27-31 March and France, 30 June – 2 July) with the support of UN Women. Key results achieved: nine out of 18 programme countries, which made their commitments for five Action Coalitions, are represented in Generation Equality leadership and commitment making structures. Also, 57 applications were submitted from civil society organizations (CSOs) as commitment makers. 176 partners (the National Gender Equality Mechanisms, parliaments, political parties, CSOs and youth representatives, gender experts, research centers and universities) contributed to preparations for thesixty-fifth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 65) - by attending three sub-regional consultations in February-March 2021. They called on securing women’s activism for national and global transformative change on gender equality, setting-up a pro bono council for women's rights in the region/sub-region. The consultations were linked with the GEF/Action Coalition and provided space to reflect on challenges and achievements as well as priorities for the leadership and participation by adhering to the principle of leaving no one behind and voicing the specific sub-regional visions, experiences, and lessons. The findings of the consultations, key messages and takeaways were presented at the CSW65 ministerial round table/s by the hosting country’s delegation that attended the CSW65 consultations. Regional Youth Network contributing to the GEF has grown to 300 members with an average age of 23 years. 31,936 youth engaged in the #YouthDemand campaign launched on 8 March where youth activists from Europe and Central Asia region voiced the following demands: recognition and criminalization of femicides; provision of complementary menstrual hygiene products worldwide to achieve a world free of menstrual poverty; inclusion of mental health services in the national health insurance policies; acceleration of investments and introduction of comprehensive sexuality education in formal education; improve urban planning for women and girls’ safety (the Campaign report is here). The youth demands were presented at the GEF in Mexico on 29-31 March 2021, to make the voices of young people heard by the decision-makers attending the Forum. In May-December, eight inspiring #YouthAct initiatives that fostered change, mobilized youth locally, and initiated transformation in their communities, were designed, led and implemented by youth activists (#YouthAct project pitches by the young creators - here). The youth engagement strategy for 2022-2026 was developed by activists and is expected to be implemented with resources to be mobilized. #FeministsWantSystemChange campaign co-led by ECARO and CSOs, resulted in 1.81 million total impressions and 4.32K mentions during the period of 20 September 2020 – 20 September 2021. A metrics report on the outreach of the campaign is available here. More information at ECARO Generation Equality landing page. Generations Talk Gender podcast series with four episodes connected gender equality activists from across generations and all walks of life. Activists in the series delve into issues old and new, with an eye on persuasive activism and high-impact actions leading all the way to gender equality. The podcast series is on Spotify and other channels. A regional collection of 28 fairy tales - Awake Not Sleeping: Reimagining Fairy Tales for a New Generation was launched to inspire children to succeed in untraditional roles, as portrayed by real and fictional role models from the region. More than 4,600 people participated in the launch event. In one week leading up to the event, the #AwakeNotSleeping campaign received close to half a million impressions on social media. ECA RO will continue its feminist storytelling cross-generational work to light the rich cultural heritage from countries across the region. UN Women contributed to this by implementation of the regional Roadmap to the GEF, which suggested key activities, partnerships, and space for inclusive participatory engagement. Key partners engaged into the implementation: national women mechanisms, CSOs and youth activists; UN and regional organizations. The strategy and theory of change is still applicable.

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References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).

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