Democratization Eric Gourlan Tiina Ilsen (centre), Head of ODIHR’s Gender Unit, with participants at a workshop on women’s leadership and participation. particularly prevalent in those countries where domestic violence is traditionally viewed as a private issue, and where no legal measures exist for prosecuting perpetrators and protecting victims. Since the adoption of the revised OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality in 2004, ODIHR has reinforced its activities in the field of preventing and combating domestic violence with a special focus on strengthening the awareness and capacity of state structures and civil-society organizations to effectively prevent domestic violence, prosecute perpetrators, and address victims’ needs. ODIHR’s approach to this work is based on three key areas: sensitization of law enforcement agencies towards the issue as a crime; building the capacity of law enforcement authorities to play an effective role in preventing and combating domestic violence; and promoting cooperation between law enforcement bodies and NGOs on strategies and measures to prevent and combat this crime. Since 2003, ODIHR has been working closely with police and women’s NGOs in Azerbaijan and Georgia to assist them in building a sound legal framework and necessary law enforcement capacity to prevent and combat domestic violence. In 2007 in Azerbaijan, ODIHR continued to provide assistance in training regional police representatives on the role of the police and methods for preventing and prosecuting cases of domestic violence. In addition, ODIHR supported the development and piloting of the first training course on preventing and combating domestic violence, which was included in the curriculum of the Baku Police Academy. Following this training, ODIHR, in partnership with the Austrian Federal Police, organized a training-of-trainers workshop for teachers at the Baku Police Academy and representatives of Symmetria at the Vienna Police Academy in order to familiarize them with the curriculum and teaching methods used. In addition to the skills gained, the relations formed between Azerbaijani police officers and Symmetria resulted in a joint effort with the Ministry of Interior for the establishment of an intervention centre for victims of domestic violence. In Georgia, ODIHR continued to provide expert assistance and funding to the Anti-Violence Network of Georgia, which unites local women’s-rights activists and the representatives of local self-government bodies from rural areas, to organize training on the implementation of Annual Report 2007 31