On 15 May 2026, BRAVE-WOW organised its first Synergy Meeting, bringing together around 30 participants from European initiatives working on gender-based violence (GBV), workplace inclusion, and the protection of vulnerable groups. The meeting marked an important step in strengthening collaboration within the BRAVE-WOW European Community of Practice (CoP).
The session opened with an introduction to BRAVE-WOW and the objectives of the synergy meetings, which aim to promote cooperation, knowledge exchange, and networking among projects addressing related challenges across Europe.
Four European initiatives presented their work during the session. GRAPES OF CHANGE – Tackling Violence in Wine Supply Chains, presented by Sistemi Formativi Confindustria, focused on preventing violence and discrimination in the wine supply chain sector through sector-specific approaches and inclusive labour practices.
VIOLET – Towards Workplaces without Sexual Harassment, presented by the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights, explored strategies to prevent and respond to sexual harassment in healthcare workplaces, highlighting the importance of workplace policies, awareness-raising, and institutional accountability.
DEMETRA – DEMEntia TRAining to Prevent Abuse Towards Older Women, presented by ISIS-Sozialforschung, addressed violence against older women living with dementia and emphasised the need for specialised training for caregivers and professionals.
Finally, PENELOPE – Innovative and Pioneer Cluster-Based Approach to Foster and Integrate Gender Mainstreaming Strategies in European SMEs, presented by Lucia Seel International Consulting, focused on supporting SMEs in integrating gender mainstreaming practices into organisational structures and business processes.
Discussions throughout the meeting highlighted the importance of reliable data collection, awareness-raising, education, and training in effectively addressing GBV. Participants stressed that sustainable change requires coordinated action between institutions, businesses, civil society organisations, and local communities.
The exchange also reinforced the value of long-term cooperation and peer learning between projects. To support future collaboration, participants agreed to create a shared folder for exchanging resources, events, project links, and ideas for future synergies.
Recordings of the meeting are available here: