Vásárhely és Vidéke, May 28, 1994:*”A three-day international conference titled ‘Violence and Democracy’ began on Friday in Budapest. The event was organized by the association ‘Women for Women Together Against Violence,’ established to assist and support women and children who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The conference features presentations by Hungarian and international experts—hailing from the United States, the former Yugoslavia, Germany, and Poland. Topics include the incompatibility of violence with democracy and human rights.

At the introductory press conference on Friday, it was noted that while 1994—the Year of the Family—has brought much discussion about families, little attention has been given to the fact that families do not always provide love and security to their members. Often, they are based on intimidation and violence. The ‘Women for Women Against Violence’ (NaNE) association aims to help women who have experienced violence by informing them about their rights, what actions they can take, and where to seek help. Since February, the association has been operating a helpline (216-16-70), where callers are listened to and provided with support, including emotional, legal, and medical advice.”*

Dear past and present association members, volunteers, colleagues, clients, partners, and supporters,

I am Zsuzsanna Winkler, one of the board members of the association, and this is my colleague Magda Göttinger, the president of the association.

The article we quoted was written in 1994, the year NaNE was founded. This was one of the first occasions when NaNE was mentioned in the press. Since then, it would be nearly impossible to count the number of times we’ve appeared in print or online, in Budapest, across the country, or even internationally.

It has been a long journey, filled with personal, social, and economic challenges, but our goal has remained steadfast: to ensure that survivors of violence can step out of invisibility and know they are not alone—that they have the right to protection, support, and a safe, peaceful life.

Over the last thirty years, beyond the ever-expanding operation of our helpline, we have invested tremendous effort into ensuring that survivors receive adequate care. We have trained countless social workers, psychologists, police officers, healthcare workers, and civil society actors on the issue of domestic violence. We have established collaborations with institutions responsible for supporting survivors of violence, as well as with local governments.

We have published materials for both survivors and professionals in the field, developed protocols to support professional and effective responses to violence against women, and organized prevention programs and camps for both teenage girls and boys. We’ve appeared at conferences and forums, organized campaigns against violence, and contributed to domestic and international surveys and human rights reports.

We have also formulated proposals based on the realities and rights of survivors for decision-makers at both national and international levels, in partnership with the Hungarian Women’s Lobby and the WAVE Network (Women Against Violence Europe), which is also celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, as well as the Patent Association. Annually, nearly 1,000 women and/or their family members utilize our victim support services.

Dear past and present NaNE members, partners, allies, and supporters, thank you for contributing to these achievements with your presence and support. Thank you for being part of this work, which has now spanned 30 years.

Looking at the reality of life in Hungary today, we see that our work cannot stop. Many women and children still need support and empowerment daily. It remains essential to repeatedly emphasize that violence against women and children is a societal issue rooted in patriarchal values. To achieve meaningful change, it is this value system that must be transformed.

Thank you for continuing to stand with us in this work. Let us toast to our partner organizations, supporters, and everyone who has ever contributed to our mission in any way. And let us celebrate the NaNE team—all the strong women who have been part of this organization over the past three decades and who will continue to lead its work in the years to come. Thank you for celebrating with us.