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Funding of and awareness-raising on gender-based violence

The European Commission gives financial support to projects fighting against gender-based violence.

Raising awareness of gender-based violence

Awareness-raising is key to spreading the clear message of zero tolerance of all forms of violence against women and girls. It's also key to informing victims of their rights and the support services available to them.

In addition to governments and regional and local authorities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are well-placed to develop grassroots initiatives to prevent violence and support victims.

Funding and support

The EU supports a broad range of non-governmental organisations as well as European networks, EU Member State public administrations, authorities and institutions that play an important role at EU, national and local levels in the prevention of violence against women and supporting victims.

How to apply for funding

Calls for proposals and calls for tenders are available under the Funding & tender opportunities portal, and in particular under the following programmes:

  • Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme: The Daphne strand of the programme provides funding to prevent and combat, at all levels, all forms of gender-based violence against women and girls and domestic violence, violence against children, young people, and other groups at risk, and to support and protect all direct and indirect victims of such violence.
  • Justice Programme: provides funding for organisations that help victims access justice, and organisations working on the correct implementation of EU legislation on protection orders.

Helplines

The European Commission has taken up the initiative of the German Presidency of the Council in 2020 to establish an EU-wide helpline number (116 016) for victims of violence against women.

The harmonised helpline will serve to combat violence against women and assist victims in line with the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 and the proposal for a directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence.

The common EU-wide number will enable victims of violence against women to call from across the EU to access advice and support. The number will be connected to national helplines through which the support services for victims are provided.