WAVE Network

We were so happy to see so many of our members join our recent webinar on technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

With the help of Asha Allen and Marie Seck from the Center for Democracy & Technology Europe, we explored how the EU Directive on Violence against Women and the Digital Services Act can be used in practice, from understanding survivors’ rights to navigating reporting, redress, and platform accountability.

A key takeaway: technology-facilitated violence is not separate from offline violence, it is part of the same continuum of abuse.

At WAVE, addressing this is a core part of our work to end all forms of violence against women and girls. Through advocacy, awareness raising, and collaboration with experts and frontline organisations, we continue working to ensure that survivors’ experiences in digital spaces are recognised and addressed.

Thank you to CDT Europe and to everyone who joined and shared their insights. We’re excited to keep learning and building knowledge together in this space.

If you’d like to support our work, you can do so here: https://wave-network.org/donate/

Looking back at the WAVE Regional Meeting Eurasia 2026 in Vienna 🤍

In February, women’s rights organisations from across Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, and Georgia came together for three days of honest conversations, shared realities, and much-needed connection.

A few months on, we’re still thinking about the WAVE Regional Meeting Eurasia 2026 in Vienna 🤍

In February, women’s rights organisations from across Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, and Georgia came together for three days of honest conversations, shared realities, and much-needed connection.

Participants spoke openly about shrinking civic space, financial instability, digital security risks, and the growing pressure of anti-gender narratives. These challenges haven’t gone away.

But neither has the response.

The meeting created space to exchange practical strategies that continue to shape the work today:
• stronger risk management and safety planning
• more adaptive communication approaches, balancing visibility and security
• improved digital protection of sensitive data
• renewed focus on staff wellbeing and burnout prevention
• exploring more sustainable and flexible funding models

One of the strongest takeaways was solidarity in practice, from cross-border cooperation to support from unexpected allies.

A few months later, that sense of connection and shared purpose still matters. Because behind every strategy are people continuing to do this work, often under pressure, and still showing up for survivors.

🔗 Read more: https://wave-network.org/wave-regional-meeting-eurasia-2026/

What does the EU budget say about what we value?

From 25–28 March, WAVE participated in a high-level conference in Nicosia on the future of the EU budget (2028–2034), and what it means for gender equality across Europe.

A key concern: proposals to remove earmarked funding for gender equality risk reversing progress made over the past decade.

“Victims of gender based and domestic violence need specific support from experienced professionals – women’s shelters are crucial and need more long-term funding.”
— Katrin Schneeweis, BAKHTHI (AÖF)

The Nicosia Declaration calls for gender equality, care, and social priorities to be at the heart of the EU budget.

🔗 Read more: https://wave-network.org/advancing-gender-equality-in-the-eu-budget-wave-at-the-nicosia-conference/