Governments across the Western Balkans (WB) have committed to the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention (IC), promising to provide survivor-centred services for those affected by gender-based violence. But despite these commitments, a major question remains: are they putting their [public] money where their mouth is? Too often, governments fall short, underfunding essential services and leaning heavily on women’s rights civil society organisations (WCSOs) to fill the gap. These organisations play a critical role in supporting survivors, yet they remain underfunded, putting both their sustainability and services for survivors at risk. 

To address this gap, a network of seven WCSOs in WB examining the actual costs of gender-based violence as part of their regional Action “Institutionalising Quality Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services for Violence Survivors II”, supported by the Austrian Development Agency. The initiative aims to strengthen and secure sustainable, quality services for survivors of gender-based violence, using gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) to estimate the real cost of these services. This research covers six WB countries and digs deep into the funding landscape for 2023–2025. It compares what governments planned to spend versus what they actually spent and looks ahead to whether upcoming budgets (2025-2028) are on track to meet the IC’s standards. Crucially, it also calculates what it would cost to deliver these services properly and what support WCSOs need to do their part sustainably. 

Kosovo already is a leader in financing for specialised services. The Government Kosovo has budgeted for shelters, thanks to advocacy efforts by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and its members, particularly shelters coupled with efforts by institutions and parliamentarians to allocate a budget. Nevertheless, shelters still require additional financing to be fully sustainable and Kosovo still needs a Rape Crisis Centre, SOS hotline, shelter for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ+) persons, and specialised legal services by CSO watchdogs to fulfil IC requirements. 

The methodology for this research draws on best practices in GRB, international guidance for costing social services, and KWN’s internationally recognised costing methodology, estimating the exact costs for service providers and institutions to deliver specialised services for survivors of gender-based violence. Specialised services examined include Rape Crisis Centres, SOS hotlines, shelters, and specialized legal aid. The research will assess the extent to which WB governments allocated and spent sufficient funds for specialised services in line with the IC during 2022-2024, and whether they have planned adequate budgets for 2025-2028. It will also estimate the costs of providing specialised services in line with IC standards, including the costs required to support WCSO service providers, for the period 2026-2028. 

Key questions the research seeks to answer include: Are existing laws and budgets aligned with the Istanbul Convention? Where are the major funding and service delivery gaps? What roles do institutions play in budgeting and service provision? What would it truly cost to deliver high-quality, IC-compliant services? These are some of the critical issues the research will explore through legal and policy analysis, institutional mapping, budget reviews, and costing exercises. The forthcoming research aims to inform evidence-based advocacy to relevant institutions for adequate budget allocations, particularly for medium-term budget frameworks and annual budgets, starting from 2026. Providing comprehensive rehabilitation and integration services to survivors of gender-based violence is essential for healing, wellbeing and prevention of recidivist violence.  

Research began in April and is expected to be published as individual country reports in November. A consolidated regional report comparing results across countries is anticipated in April 2026.