Study Visit - Project: Women’s Access to Justice in the Western Balkans

On 9-10 June 2026, the mentors of the second cohort of the Mentoring Programme for Legal Professionals on Women’s Access to Justice participated in a study visit to Madrid, Spain.

The study visit, organized by the Spanish Ministry of Equality, provided a multi-sectoral overview of the Spanish approach to combating violence against women and ensuring gender equality within the judicial chain. The mentors advanced their knowledge of judicial training, the role of the observatory on domestic and gender-based violence, the state-level system for following up on gender-based violence cases, and the role of the police and judges specialized in gender-based violence.

The meetings provided an opportunity for practical exchange between participants and hosts from Spain, sharing how to better strengthen the capacities of legal professionals to address the obstacles faced by women and girls in accessing justice. A particular focus was given to those experiencing violence and those from disadvantaged communities.

The study visit was organized within the framework of the joint EU-Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility III” and its regional action “Women’s Access to Justice in the Western Balkans”, which is assisting beneficiaries in the Western Balkans in the process of strengthening access to justice for women, in line with the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention.

The beneficiaries were mentors from all six Western Balkan countries.