BCSDN has published its 2025 Research in Focus report, “The Missing Lens: Rethinking the Enabling Environment for Gender Equality and Civil Society in the Western Balkans,” which analyzes the civic space for gender equality and feminist organizations in the Western Balkans. The research reveals a concerning trend, highlighting the growing influence of coordinated anti-gender movements. These groups are using smear campaigns, disinformation, sexualized harassment, online abuse, and intimidation to silence activists. This makes civic participation increasingly risky, particularly for women human rights defenders and LGBTI+ activists. Key recommendations include stronger protection of civic freedoms, sustainable funding models, meaningful cooperation between the state and civil society, the dismantling of patriarchal norms within institutions, and the systematic integration of gender perspectives into all areas of EU accession reforms. Read more here.
Source: BCSDN
