Domestic violence

Natalia Mishyna had the honor to present our Association’s project "Empowering Local Authorities to Combat Domestic Violence in Ukraine" at the All-Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Conference “Problematic Issues of Domestic and Gender-Based Violence in Ukraine under Martial Law” (March 18, 2025).In times of war, territorial communities in Ukraine face enormous challenges - but also demonstrate resilience and leadership. Strengthening the capacity of local authorities to prevent and respond to domestic violence is critical for protecting the most vulnerable.Grateful to be part of this important conversation and to share our practical experience from the field.You can read the conference proceedings here: http://catalog.liha-pres.eu/index.php/liha-pres/catalog/view/377/11646/26336-1

Our expert contributes to the fight against domestic violence.We are proud to share that Jeyhun Garajaev, Judge of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan and expert affiliated with our Association, participated in the Council of Europe event "Protection of victims of domestic violence: legal and social aspects" held in Baku on 19 April 2025.This high-level discussion brought together judges and lawyers to explore the challenges faced by victims, the importance of recognising psychological abuse, and the role of legal professionals in ensuring justice and protection.Judge Garajaev delivered a powerful contribution, analysing the constitutional foundations of the Law on Preventing Domestic Violence and highlighting relevant jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights. His intervention underlined a crucial point: effective investigations and zero tolerance are not optional — they are obligations under human rights law.As an Association committed to the advancement of social rights, rule of law, and local…

One of our projects focuses on how Ukrainian local self-government can contribute to combating domestic violence and ensuring that victims receive timely and effective support. We are pleased that we are moving in the same direction as the Ukrainian government, which is reinforcing this priority at the national level.According to the media, 'more than 245,000 Ukrainians received support last year as part of the 'Cities and Communities Free from Violence' initiative launched in 2023' (the link to learn more about the Ukrainian government's initiative is below the comments.). This project strengthens local responses to domestic violence by establishing crisis centres, shelters and support services across Ukraine. Such initiatives demonstrate the power of local self-government in protecting human rights and building safer communities.We are proud to contribute to this mission by exploring how local authorities can play an active role in tackling domestic violence. Strengthening legal frameworks, sharing best practices and…

It was a pleasure to take part in a meeting between Patrick C. R. Terry, Dean and Professor of Law at the University of Public Administration Kehl, and our expert on domestic violence, Ceyhun Garajaev (European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) of the Council of Europe, Judge of the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan) .While the main focus of our discussion was on building a strategic partnership for future collaboration, we also took the time to exchange insights on a critical issue - domestic violence.A special thank you to Patrick C. R. Terry for sharing his professional analysis of Germany’s experience in tackling domestic violence through legal and policy measures. Meaningful conversations like these help us learn from each other and strengthen our collective response to pressing social challenges. see the details here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7304801811331231744

Collaborating for Change: a toolkit for local self-government (our project to develop a policy and awareness toolkit for local and regional authorities to effectively combat domestic violence). We are thrilled to announce that Ceyhun Qaracayev, a highly respected international expert, has joined our initiative dedicated to tackling domestic violence at the local and regional levels. With over 30 years of experience in human rights protection, professor Garadjaev has worked extensively on policy development and advocacy, focusing on domestic violence prevention. His expertise is enriched by longstanding collaboration with the Council of Europe, where he has contributed to key projects and initiatives addressing this critical issue. As part of our pilot project, "Collaborating for Change: A Toolkit for Local Self-Government" we are developing a comprehensive policy and awareness toolkit to empower local and regional authorities. Ceyhun’s deep knowledge of legal frameworks, best practices, and international standards will significantly strengthen our work.