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Changing how Europe responds to gender-based violence won't come from institutions alone. It takes professionals, researchers, survivors, and ordinary people who refuse to accept how things are. Wherever you are coming from, there is a way to contribute.

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You don't need to work in this field to make a difference.

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Contact your local or national representative and ask what they're doing about gender-based violence.

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Find others near you

Connect with the groups already campaigning for change in your country.

See the directory below

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VERA is independent and non-profit. We take no money from the institutions we're working to change. Soon you'll be able to fund this work directly and securely. We're formally establishing VERA as a registered non-profit first, so every euro is accountable from day one.

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If you work in this field

Institutions, researchers, and victim-support organisations: building better responses takes the people who run them. Whether you can share practice, strengthen the evidence, or bring frontline expertise, we'd like to hear from you.

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Find a group in your country

You noticed something your country hasn't caught up on, or you want to help drive systemic change? You don't have to do it alone. Here are the people already working on it.

Bureau Clara WichmannNetherlandsUses strategic litigation to strengthen the legal position and safety of women.WOMEN Inc.NetherlandsThe Netherlands' largest women's advocacy organisation, campaigning to fix the system, not the women.WO=MEN, Dutch Gender PlatformNetherlandsA coalition of women's-rights organisations that lobbies government and monitors the Istanbul Convention.AtriaNetherlandsThe national knowledge institute for emancipation and women's history, supplying the research behind policy and law.RutgersNetherlandsAdvocacy and expertise on sexual health, rights, and the prevention of gender-based violence.EmancipatorNetherlandsEngages men and boys in gender equality and the prevention of violence against women.Dolle MinaNetherlandsA long-standing feminist activist group organising marches and campaigns, including for a legal definition of femicide.End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW)United KingdomLeading UK coalition lobbying government for policy and legal change to end violence against women and girls.Centre for Women's JusticeUnited KingdomLegal charity using strategic litigation to hold the state to account for failures to protect women.Rights of WomenUnited KingdomSpecialist charity campaigning for law reform and helping women understand their legal rights.Surviving Economic AbuseUnited KingdomThe only UK charity dedicated to economic abuse; drove its recognition in law.Southall Black SistersUnited KingdomCampaigns on law and policy for Black and minoritised women facing abuse.Level UpUnited KingdomFeminist campaigning group that won binding press guidelines on reporting domestic-abuse killings.White Ribbon UKUnited KingdomEngages men and boys to prevent violence against women.Fundación MujeresSpainNational NGO driving gender-equality policy and monitoring sexist media linked to violence.Asociación de Mujeres Juristas ThemisSpainWomen lawyers filing inputs to legislation and litigating strategic gender-violence cases.CIMTMSpainLong-running body researching victims' access to justice and submitting proposals to public bodies.Feminicidio.netSpainIndependent observatory documenting femicides in Spain to press for policy change.Asociación Clara CampoamorSpainAdvocacy group working with parliament on Penal Code and gender-violence law reform.Federación de Mujeres ProgresistasSpainNational federation campaigning on gender violence, trafficking and cyberviolence.Fundación Ana BellaSpainSurvivor-led network turning lived experience into public advocacy.Mirabal BelgiumBelgiumCoalition of 100+ organisations behind the national march against violence against women, campaigning for structural change.Stop FéminicideBelgiumCitizen monitor that counts and documents femicides and campaigns for legal reform.FuriaBelgiumFlemish feminist think tank producing policy advocacy on gender equality and violence.GaranceBelgiumBrussels-based organisation advocating primary prevention of gender-based and sexual violence.Conseil des Femmes Francophones de BelgiqueBelgiumFrancophone umbrella body lobbying on legislation and systemic reform.VrouwenraadBelgiumDutch-speaking women's council federating organisations to advocate for anti-violence policy.Zij-kantBelgiumProgressive Flemish women's movement campaigning for gender-equality and anti-violence law.Fondation des FemmesFranceFrance's leading foundation funding legal advocacy and lobbying for reform against gender-based violence.#NousToutesFranceMass feminist collective known for national marches demanding stronger state action against violence.Collectif Féminicides par compagnon ou exFranceVolunteers documenting every conjugal femicide in France and pressing for accountability.Osez le Féminisme !FranceCampaigning association running awareness and legal-reform campaigns against violence.Collectif National pour les Droits des FemmesFranceCoalition campaigning for a comprehensive framework law against violence against women.En avant toute(s)FrancePreventing relationship violence among young people, with systemic-prevention advocacy.Le Planning FamilialFranceNational network advocating for reproductive rights and against gender-based violence.Deutscher FrauenratGermanyGermany's largest women's lobby, advocating on policy and legal reform.Terre des FemmesGermanyHuman-rights NGO campaigning to change law on FGM, forced marriage and violence against women.bff – Frauen gegen GewaltGermanyFederation of women's counselling and rape-crisis centres; national advocacy body.D.i.Re – Donne in Rete contro la violenzaItalyNational network of anti-violence centres and the main GBV advocacy voice.Non Una Di MenoItalyMass feminist movement campaigning against femicide and for systemic change.Casa delle Donne per non subire violenzaItalyHistoric feminist association combining services with political advocacy.National Women's Council of IrelandIrelandThe national women's-rights body leading advocacy on equality and violence against women.Safe IrelandIrelandSocial-change agency driving legal and systemic reform to end domestic violence.Dublin Rape Crisis CentreIrelandLeads national policy and campaigns on sexual violence and consent.UMARPortugalFeminist organisation running Portugal's femicide observatory (OMA) and GBV campaigns.APAVPortugalNational victim-support NGO with substantial policy and legal-reform advocacy.Plataforma Portuguesa para os Direitos das MulheresPortugalNational coalition of women's organisations advocating against violence.RoksSwedenNational federation of women's and girls' shelters; feminist advocacy on men's violence against women.UnizonSwedenFederation of ~140 shelters and support centres; political advocacy for a violence-free society.Sveriges Kvinnoorganisationer (Swedish Women's Lobby)SwedenUmbrella body doing national and EU policy advocacy.Centrum Praw KobietPolandWomen's Rights Centre; legal advocacy and litigation to reform GBV law.FEDERAPolandCampaigns for reproductive rights and against gender-based violence through litigation and advocacy.Ogólnopolski Strajk Kobiet (All-Poland Women's Strike)PolandMass movement organising protests and legislative pressure.AÖF – Autonome Österreichische FrauenhäuserAustriaNational shelter coordination body; policy advocacy and awareness campaigns.Österreichischer FrauenringAustriaUmbrella of women's organisations advocating against violence.KlagsverbandAustriaLitigation association enforcing anti-discrimination rights through strategic legal action.Diotima – Centre for Gender Rights and EqualityGreeceLeading NGO combining legal aid with policy advocacy and law-reform campaigns.To MovGreeceFeminist collective campaigning against femicide and gender-based violence.National Council of Greek WomenGreeceUmbrella women's organisation and Greek coordinator for the European Women's Lobby.Kvinderådet (Women's Council Denmark)DenmarkUmbrella body lobbying government on gender equality and violence against women.KVINFODenmarkNational centre for gender research and advocacy, running campaigns and policy work on GBV.DannerDenmarkWomen's-rights organisation combining a knowledge centre with political campaigning to end violence against women.National Council of Women of FinlandFinlandUmbrella of women's associations advocating for legislative reform, including on violence against women.NYTKISFinlandCross-party coalition of women's organisations lobbying on gender equality and its 'Stop violence against women' work.Amnesty International FinlandFinlandCampaigned for Finland's consent-based rape law and continues systemic GBV advocacy.proFemCzechiaLegal-advocacy organisation for GBV survivors; helped secure the first legal definition of domestic violence.KonsentCzechiaConsent and sexual-violence NGO that campaigned to rewrite the Czech legal definition of rape.Česká ženská lobby (Czech Women's Lobby)CzechiaNetwork of women's organisations doing policy advocacy on violence against women.Centrul FILIARomaniaFeminist NGO doing research, campaigns and policy advocacy against violence against women.Rețeaua VIFRomaniaNational coalition lobbying government for legal reform and implementation of anti-violence measures.E-RomnjaRomaniaAdvocacy for Roma women's rights, including campaigns against gender-based violence.Ženska soba – Center for Sexual RightsCroatiaAdvocacy and policy work on sexual violence, legislative change and victim protection.Autonomna ženska kuća ZagrebCroatiaWomen-against-violence NGO campaigning for systemic and legal reform.B.a.B.e.CroatiaWomen's human rights organisation campaigning on gender equality, online violence and legal reform.NANEHungaryWomen's rights association doing advocacy and campaigns against violence against women and children.PATENT AssociationHungaryLegal-advocacy organisation providing strategic litigation and research on gender-based violence.Hungarian Women's LobbyHungaryUmbrella coalition lobbying for women's rights legislation nationally and at EU level.Bulgarian Fund for WomenBulgariaFeminist fund supporting women's rights organisations and campaigns against gender-based violence.Bulgarian Gender Research FoundationBulgariaResearch and advocacy organisation working on women's rights, domestic violence and legal reform.Alliance for Protection against Gender-Based ViolenceBulgariaNational coalition of organisations campaigning against gender-based and domestic violence.Možnosť voľby (Freedom of Choice)SlovakiaAdvocacy organisation defending women's rights and campaigning on violence and equality.FenestraSlovakiaWomen's organisation working on domestic and gender-based violence, counselling and legislative change.ASPEKTSlovakiaFeminist education and publishing organisation promoting gender equality and women's rights.Ženski lobi Slovenije (Women's Lobby of Slovenia)SloveniaUmbrella coalition lobbying for women's rights and gender equality legislation.Društvo za nenasilno komunikacijoSloveniaAssociation working on non-violence, prevention and support for victims of violence.Društvo SOS telefonSloveniaNon-profit helpline association supporting women and children experiencing violence.FeministeeriumEstoniaFeminist platform and community advocating for gender equality and against gender-based violence.Estonian Women's Associations RoundtableEstoniaCooperation network of women's organisations working on women's rights and policy.Estonian Women's Shelters UnionEstoniaUmbrella organisation of women's shelters, running the national women's support line.Centre MARTALatviaWomen's rights centre working against violence against women and trafficking, with victim support.Women's NGOs Cooperation Network of LatviaLatviaNetwork uniting women's organisations to advocate for equality and end violence.Lithuanian Women's LobbyLithuaniaUmbrella organisation lobbying for women's rights and gender equality in law and policy.Center for Equality AdvancementLithuaniaNGO promoting gender equality and defending women's rights, including against violence.Vilnius Women's HouseLithuaniaWomen's rights organisation providing support and advocacy for victims of violence.Conseil National des Femmes du Luxembourg (CNFL)LuxembourgNational council of women's organisations advocating for women's rights and equality.CID Fraen an GenderLuxembourgFeminist centre for documentation, education and campaigning on gender equality.JIF Luxembourg / FraestreikLuxembourgYoung feminist collective campaigning for women's rights and against gender-based violence.Women's Rights FoundationMaltaVoluntary organisation campaigning for women's rights, equality and protection from violence.Malta Women's Lobby / MCWOMaltaUmbrella network of women's organisations lobbying for gender equality and women's rights.Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies (MIGS)CyprusResearch and advocacy institute working on gender equality and violence against women.Cyprus Women's LobbyCyprusNetwork of women's organisations advocating for women's rights and against gender-based violence.KrisesentersekretariatetNorwayNational umbrella of women’s crisis sheltersDixi Ressurssenter mot voldtektNorwaySpecialist rape and sexual-assault supportDinutvei.noNorwayNational guide and helpline on violence in close relationshipsKvennaathvarfið (Women’s Shelter)IcelandNational shelter for women and childrenStígamótIcelandCounselling for survivors of sexual violenceDAO – Frauenhäuser SchweizSwitzerlandUmbrella of women’s shelters (CH & Liechtenstein)TERRE DES FEMMES SchweizSwitzerlandWomen’s-rights NGO on gender-based violenceBRAVASwitzerlandNGO against gender-specific violenceFrauenhaus LiechtensteinLiechtensteinNational women’s shelterinfra – Beratungsstelle für FrauenLiechtensteinWomen’s information and advice centre, SchaanAVIPMonacoFree, confidential support for victims of crime incl. domestic and sexual violenceComité Droits des Femmes (DFM)MonacoMonaco women’s-rights committee
Vatican / Holy SeeVatican / Holy SeeWe're not aware of organisations here that we can list yet.
AWEN – Albanian Women’s Empowerment NetworkAlbaniaNational coalition of women’s-rights NGOsCounselling Line for Women and GirlsAlbaniaNational women’s helpline 116 117Autonomous Women’s CenterSerbiaLeading anti-violence NGO — SOS support and policy advocacyFoundation United Women Banja LukaBosnia & HerzegovinaWomen’s-rights NGO — SOS and legal supportWomen’s Rights Center, PodgoricaMontenegroLegal aid and advocacySOS Telefon NikšićMontenegroShelter and SOS lineNational Network to End Violence against WomenNorth MacedoniaCoalition of women’s NGOs, SOS lines and sheltersLa Strada–UkraineUkraineNational hotline on domestic violence, trafficking and discrimination; CRSV supportJurFemUkraineUkrainian Women Lawyers’ Association — legal advocacy on GBV and CRSVWomen’s Law Center (CDF), ChișinăuMoldovaLegal aid and law-reform advocacyLa Strada MoldovaMoldovaHotlines on domestic violence, trafficking and child protection
ANNA – National Centre for the Prevention of ViolenceRussiaDomestic-violence support network; designated a ‘foreign agent’. This organisation is operating under pressure, so we can't confirm it is safe or reachable right now.
RussiaRussiaSome independent organisations here have been shut down or forced into exile, so we only list what we can confirm.
BelarusBelarusIndependent support in this country has been shut down or forced into exile. We won't list a service we can't confirm is safe to contact.

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