Women and Illicit Finance in the Western Balkans: Expanding the Frontiers of Knowledge and Action is the first regional study to systematically explore the gender dynamics of illicit financial flows (IFFs) in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Published by the AIRE Centre and supported by the UK Government, the report challenges the assumption that financial crime is gender-neutral, uncovering the complex and often invisible roles women play—as victims, enablers, intermediaries, and, at times, decision-makers.

Drawing on interviews with nearly 100 experts from judiciary, law enforcement, financial institutions, academia, and civil society, the study maps the legal, cultural, and socio-economic conditions that facilitate women’s involvement in IFFs. It also highlights how outdated stereotypes and lack of gender-sensitive data contribute to institutional blind spots, leading to ineffective responses and missed opportunities for disruption and prevention.

The report offers targeted, jurisdiction-specific recommendations for policymakers, prosecutors, financial regulators, and international donors. These include gender-disaggregated data collection, improved training for investigators, stronger safeguards for coerced participants, and reforms to better align legal frameworks with the lived realities of women affected by IFFs.