The Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe was adopted by European Union initiative in 1999 with the aim of strengthening the countries in Southeastern Europe "in their efforts to foster peace, democracy, respect for human rights and economic prosperity in order to achieve stability in the whole region." The Stability Pact partners include the European Union Member States, countries in the region (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, FYR Macedonia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Turkey and Moldova), non-EU members of the G-8 (U.S., Canada, Japan and Russia), Norway, Switzerland, other international organizations, such as the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, NATO, and world financial institutions, such as the World Bank. The work of the Stability Pact is organized under three Working Tables; the first addresses democratization and human rights, the second addresses economic reconstruction and the third focuses on security issues.

Under Working Table I, the Stability Pact focuses on four priority areas, one of which is the Gender Task Force. The Gender Task Force aims to promote women's political participation and also to establish national governmental institutions that will promote gender equality. The Stability Pact addresses violence against women in a limited way, mainly though initiatives aimed at the issue of trafficking in women described below. In addition, the Gender Task Force has recently initiated the Mayor's Link Project in 12 SEE countries, one component of which is to improve the quality of life for women and children, with an emphasis on obtaining justice through a variety of projects, including efforts to end domestic violence. More information about this particular project can be found on the website of SEF, a Romanian NGO.

Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings

The primary work of the Stability Pact in the area of violence against women is through the Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings. The Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings brings together expertise of different institutions and experts dealing with trafficking in human beings in the SEE region. The Task Force is then able to provide governments with a comprehensive understanding of the inter-related challenges poised by the problem of trafficking as well as best practices for anti-trafficking activities. While the Task Force does not create law, it has formulated important policy on national and regional counter-measures. More information about the Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings can found in the Trafficking: Law and Policy section about the Stability Pact.