The end of Soviet-controlled Governments in the former Eastern European Bloc in 1989 had paved the way for the rapid transition of several countries in the region into market economies, the earliest of which were Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. This initial transformation, and what followed from equally profound paradigm shifts throughout the region, had reshaped the social, political, and economic dynamics of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), which continue to govern civil society to this day.

Combined with a policy of openness that had been unfamiliar in CEE during the better part of the Twentieth Century, this new era of democratisation has opened tangible avenues for private and public sector development. On the other hand, it has also taken its toll on the most vulnerable and marginalized segments of society, including (but not limited to) women of diverse ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds.

With sub-regional headquarters in Bratislava, Slovakia, UNIFEM/CEE is focused on upholding women’s basic political, social, and economic rights. At the heart of its various programmes and projects in the CEE region, UNIFEM pursues a central vision to safeguard gender equality in all its shapes and forms.

Following is a detailed breakdown of UNIFEM’s mission profile within each individual country in the CEE region.  It serves as a guide to the various aspects of UNIFEM’s work in the region, and offers an assessment of the status of women in each CEE country respectively.

For further details and information on the work of UNIFEM in the CEE region, please do not hesitate to contact us at pavla.maskova@unifem.org.