Paper/Speech Details of Conference Program for the 27th NISPAcee Annual Conference Program Overview WG8: Non-Governmental Organizations in CEE Author(s) Alexandra Columban Babes-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca Romania Title From Silent Witness to Vocal Advocate. The Role of Civil Society Organisations in Promoting Gender Equality and Combatting Violence Against Women and Girls in Post-2010 Romania File Paper files are available only for conference participants, please login first. Presenter Alexandra Columban Abstract The present exploratory study analyses the role of women’s nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in preventing and combating violence against women (VAW) in Romania after 2010 and in promoting the implementation of the protection order, in particular. The study includes quantitative research (official statistics on VAW, domestic violence, protection orders, national and European surveys on VAW and civil society’s role in tackling gender inequality), as well as qualitative research in the form of interviews with two practitioners, prominent Romanian feminist activists on the topic of VAW. The paper begins with an overview of VAW and domestic violence in Romania, indicating its gendered dimension, and proceeds to presenting the legal framework with regard to VAW and the protection order, providing a timeline and a presentation of its strengths and weaknesses. Subsequently, the authors explore the role played by civil society – through grassroot activism, coalition building, and advocacy – and international institutions (particularly the EU and the Council of Europe) in promoting women’s rights and specific legislation tackling VAW. Thus, women’s NGOs – advocacy organisations, service providers, feminist and human rights organisations – emerge as key players in the creation of a legal framework for domestic violence and the protection order in Romania. In its conclusion, the paper identifies the success and limitations of bottom-up change in legislation and public policies, brought about by civil society organisations, which may serve as reference points for NGOs when setting the public agenda.
