New report indicates “shrinking space” for women’s rights defenders

A report by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) highlights a “shrinking space” for NGOs supporting women and girls across Europe. This contraction is linked both to austerity measures that cut funding and a broader context of regression in women’s rights.

Women’s rights defenders are increasingly subjected to violence, threats, and gendered hate speech, according to GREVIO, the group of independent experts responsible for monitoring the implementation by parties to Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention. Link to full story here.