UNFPA Egypt and the National Council for Women (NCW) welcomed a delegation from the KOICA headquarters office in South Korea to engage in dialogue and design areas of cooperation to address gender-based violence against women and girls. 

The partnership between UNFPA, NCW and KOICA will focus on supporting the ‘Unified Service Center for Women Subjected to Violence” commonly known as the One Stop Shop (OSS) model of services in the coming period. This facility is designed to provide medical, psychological and legal treatment to the victims of gender-based violence in one place as well as present a strong mechanism of service referral encompassing internal and external. 

The delegation was introduced to the current priorities in women's empowerment and protection from gender-based violence and harmful practices, under the leadership of NCW. They met representatives of key departments at NCW such as the Women’s Complaints Office, Training Department, Social and Economic Development, Adolescent Girls Program and the Anti-Violence against Women Coordination Unit, which was an opportunity to learn about the national efforts to respond to GBV against women and girls, the community engagement with women and religious leaders activities, the impact of livelihood program on GBV victims and the results achieved through the national referral pathway for GBV in Egypt. 

The delegation was also introduced to the national vision to establish and upscale the One Stop Shop, the first of which is expected to operate in 2024 in Cairo. KOICA’s delegation also shared their national experience and presented the “Sunflower Centers” - One Stop Shop Centers that have been operational for over 20 years.

As part of the visit, UNFPA organized a visit to Ain Shams University Campus to showcase the strategic partnership with academic institutions in combating violence against women and to provide women with safe campuses through the Anti-Violence against Women Units and the Safe Women Clinics. The first clinic was launched in 2020, offering women and girls subjected to violence with comprehensive quality care and referral services.

To conclude their visit, the KOICA delegation visited the newly-supported learning center in the local branch of NCW in Benha. The center is a pilot initiative to engage women in a vocational professional program. The training program covers financial literacy, handicrafts, business skills and information on legal frameworks on GBV crimes, positive parenting and awareness on harmful practices. 

UNFPA is supporting NCW to establish three more training and learning centers in Cairo, Giza and Beni Suef, reaching a total of 4 centers by the end of 2024. 

UNFPA, in partnership with KOICA, is currently implementing a four-year program that aims to strengthen the provision of services for victims of gender-based violence towards a longer-term strategic support strengthening the multi-sectoral response services in Egypt.