In January 2023, the Council of Europe was delighted to join Romania’s National Agency for Equal Opportunities (ANES), together with 26 participants from social and support services in Romania, on a study visit to the Salten Crisis Centre in Bodø, Norway. This visit, organised under the EEA and Norway Grants’ project "Supporting the Implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on combating violence against women and domestic violence," facilitated an exchange of experiences between organisations providing social services and shelter for victims of violence. The Council of Europe presented Istanbul Convention standards, guidance, and lessons learned about women's shelters to support this initiative.

The Council of Europe cooperates under the EEA/Norway Grants as an International Partner Organisation and is the main international partner of the SYNERGY Network against Gender-based and Domestic Violence.

 For further information, please see the SYNERGY Network article.