3.1 Programme for Gender Issues Introduction The Programme for Gender Issues (the Programme) within the OSG supported participating States in preparing National Action Plans to implement UNSCR 1325 on “Women, Peace and Security” agenda and in implementing activities aimed at preventing and combating genderbased violence. Activities Related to General Police Development and Reform Gender-Based Violence The Programme co-operated with TNTD/SPMU on activities and projects aimed at combating gender-based violence. Support was provided for specialized training and regional awareness-rising campaign against gender-based violence in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania. The above-mentioned awareness-raising material was presented by the Programme at roundtable events in Uzbekistan and shared with FOs as an example of best practice. The material has now been translated into the Russian and Uzbek languages and further promoted by state authorities in Uzbekistan. From 2016 to early 2020, the Programme implemented the project “OSCE Survey on the Well-being and Safety of Women in South-East Europe and Eastern Europe”. The research looked into the different forms of violence against women perpetrated by partners and non-partners and examined the prevalence of violence against women in conflict-affected contexts. The scope of the project included Albania, BiH, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine. The research was also conducted in Kosovo7. Cross-regional results showed that 70 per cent of women, or an estimated number of 16 million women, have experienced some form of psychological, physical or sexual violence, sexual harassment or stalking since they were 15 years old. However, even following the most serious incidents of physical and or sexual violence, the police was not informed in most cases. Only seven per cent of women contacted the police following the most serious incidents of current partner violence. The main barriers why women did not report incidents to the police include shame, lack of trust in institutions and fear of retribution from the perpetrator. Persisting harmful attitudes, for example that domestic violence is a private matter, constitute a further barrier to reporting. In 2019, the research findings were launched during four international events in Brussels, New York, Vienna and Cape Town and in eight locally launched public events conducted in those locations where the survey had been implemented. A targeted regional social media campaign was also conducted, reaching more than 35 million persons. FOs and other OSCE executive structures are now using the results of the research in the development and implementation of their ongoing programmatic activities. A police poster that was distributed in local languages in all locations where the OSCE-led Survey on the ‘Well-being and Safety of Women’ project was conducted. (Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine) 34 7 All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions, or population, in this text should be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244.