European Network for the Work with Perpetrators of Domestic Violence e.V.
WWP EN
The European Network for the Work With Perpetrators of domestic violence (WWP EN) is a membership association of organisations directly or indirectly working with people who perpetrate violence in close relationships.
ID: 792079038216-17
Lobbying Activity
Response to EU Civil Society Strategy
22 Jul 2025
The European Network for the Work with Perpetrators of Domestic Violence (WWP EN) submits this contribution grounded in practical experience from its member organisations across Europe. As a network working at local, national, and EU levels to address gender-based violence and promote fundamental rights, WWP EN underscores the urgent need for an EU Civil Society Strategy that addresses systemic power imbalances, mandates structured participation, and ensures sustainable support for civil society organisations (CSOs) and human rights defenders (HRDs). I. Meaningful Participation and Democratic Accountability Challenge: National consultation processes are often symbolic, lacking enforceability, transparency, and follow-up. CSO input is not structurally integrated into decision-making, which undermines democratic values. Recommendations: - Introduce a legally binding EU directive requiring meaningful and accountable CSO consultation at the national level. - Mandate Member States to provide structured feedback on CSO input, monitored via the Rule of Law mechanism. - Link national access to EU funds to compliance with civic participation standards. Civil Society Platform: The EU Civil Society Platform must be inclusive, impactful, and permanent. Convene biannual, co-designed meetings between CSOs and EU institutions. Ensure inclusion of grassroots, marginalised, and underrepresented organisations. Establish transparent follow-up processes and institutional focal points for CSO engagement across all relevant departments. Inclusive Law-Making: Political agendas too often override decades of CSO experience, especially in areas like gender-based violence. This undermines effective policy. Involve CSOs throughout all legislative phasesfrom drafting to implementation and evaluation. Ensure mechanisms granting CSOs access to key stakeholders (e.g. Ministries, Parliament). Legally require transparency on how CSO input influences legislation. Safeguard policymaking from political interference that excludes expert civil society voices. II. Enabling Environment and Structural Support Public Awareness and Recognition: - Launch EU-wide campaigns that highlight CSO contributions and the threats they face. - Include civic space indicators in Rule of Law and Charter of Fundamental Rights reporting. Legal and Administrative Conditions: - Simplify and harmonise CSO registration, tax status, and reporting requirements to reduce unnecessary burdens. Funding and Sustainability: Chronic underfundingespecially for organisations working on gender-based violenceis exacerbated by political pressure. Earmark dedicated EU funding (e.g. CERV) for CSOs addressing GBV and human rights. Simplify co-funding rules that disproportionately affect small and mid-sized organisations. Ensure long-term, core, and flexible operational fundingbeyond project-based grants. Cross-Cutting Priority: Gender-Based Violence as a Fundamental Rights Crisis Violence against women and girls (VAWG) directly violates the Charter of Fundamental Rights (Articles 1, 3, 21, and 23). Organisations working to address VAWG are essential human rights defenders. Recommendations: - Recognise VAWG-focused CSOs as human rights defenders in EU policy. - Protect these organisations through dedicated, flexible, and sustainable funding. - Prioritise VAWG in the EUs Civil Society Strategy and in all Charter implementation efforts. Conclusion A democratic Europe depends on strong, independent, and well-resourced civil society. The EU must take bold steps to: Mandate structured and transparent CSO participation in policymaking, Protect and amplify the voices of human rights defenders, and Provide sustainable structural support to those working to uphold the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. This Strategy is not simply about strengthening civil societyit is about protecting democracy, equality, and justice across Europe.
Read full responseResponse to Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030
14 Jul 2025
WWP EN Recommendations for the EU Gender Equality Strategy 20252030 Work With Perpetrators European Network (WWP EN) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the EU Gender Equality Strategy 20252030. Our recommendations are rooted in the work of our members across Europe and our commitment to addressing gender-based violence (GBV) by engaging with perpetrators and supporting structural transformation. 1. Strengthen Investment in Perpetrator Work and Prevention The 20202025 Strategy prioritized GBV but mentioned perpetrators only once. The new Strategy should: Clearly support evidence-based perpetrator programmes as key to stopping reoffending. Promote quality standards, accreditation, and evaluation aligned with the Istanbul Convention. Fund structural cooperation across justice, victim support, child protection, and perpetrator services. 2. Elevate Work with Boys and Men in Primary Prevention Prevention efforts must become more comprehensive. We propose: An EU Framework for engaging men and boys in gender equality. Investment in school-based, peer-led, and community programmes that counter harmful norms and promote respectful relationships. Stronger use of sports, media, and influencers to foster positive masculinity. 3. Address Disparities Affecting Boys and Young Men While women are primarily affected by inequality, gaps disadvantaging boys can feed backlash and reinforce harmful masculinities. The Strategy should: Tackle boys' underperformance in education through targeted support, especially for those from marginalized groups. Support research into how these disparities may connect to violence, addiction, and exclusion. 4. Promote Mens Mental Health as a Gender Equality Issue Men face alarming rates of suicide, addiction, and early death, often due to norms discouraging vulnerability. We recommend: Establishing national helplines for men offering integrated mental health and violence-prevention support. Launching a pan-European campaign to destigmatize mens emotional expression and promote help-seeking. Funding local programmes focused on mens wellbeing and accountability. 5. Support Fatherhood and Caregiving Mens active caregiving improves gender equality and reduces GBV risk. The Strategy should: Expand the Work-Life Balance Directive to promote uptake of parental leave by fathers. Fund fatherhood initiatives for vulnerable and non-resident dads. Include caregiving by men as an indicator of gender equality progress. 6. Ensure Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Funding nterventions with men and boys remain underfunded. We urge: Dedicated funding under CERV, ESF+, and Horizon Europe for innovative male-focused programming. Clear evaluation of gender equality funding to ensure transformative work with men is included and aligned with feminist goals. 7. Prioritize Victim Safety Over Privacy To prevent reoffending and protect survivors, the Strategy must: Emphasize that victim safety outweighs privacy concerns, in line with the Istanbul Convention. Clarify that GDPR allows proportionate information-sharing among agencies in high-risk cases. Support Member States in training and coordination to ensure safe, timely data-sharing in domestic violence responses.
Read full responseMeeting with Frances Fitzgerald (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and EUROPEAN TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION and
27 Oct 2022 · Proposal for a Directive on combatting violence against women and domestic violence