Europe and Central Asia has experienced tremendous change since the collapse of the Soviet Union three decades ago. The 22 countries and territories in the region where UNICEF has Country and Programme Offices have seen rapid transformation of their social structures, societies, infrastructure and borders. Despite notable progress, many children in the Europe and Central Asia region still live in poverty, lack equal access to quality services and suffer discrimination, abuse, exploitation and violence.
This publication is about five UNFPA-supported projects in South and Eastern Europe that have made monumental strides in engaging men in the prevention of gender-based violence. The people responsible for these projects are on the cutting edge of development efforts, yet they often feel they are fighting an uphill battle. Violence remains pervasive in the region, with estimates showing that one woman in three still experiences abuse in her lifetime.1 Attitudes and practices that perpetuate violence against women are accepted as norms, and countless crimes go unpunished (pdf, 108 pages).