UNFPA and the National Council for Women (NCW) kicked off a training workshop for staff members of the Complaints Office affiliated with the council, on laws criminalizing violence against women as well as crimes related to the personal status law, on November 24.

The four-day workshop brought together staff members of the Complaints Office from different governorates, who were also reoriented with the National Referral Pathway, which will help facilitate their work.

The training was moderated by Amal Abdel Moneim, Director General of the Complaints Office, Mona Al-Ghazali, National Coordinator of the Anti-Violence against Women Unit at NCW, and Counselor Ahmed Al-Naggar, Legal Advisor to the Unit.

This comes under the activities held to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which start on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and run until December 10, Human Rights Day.

The National Referral Pathway was officially endorsed by NCW and partner line ministries in December 2019, concluding the pilot joint program titled “Essential Services Package” in Egypt, led by UNFPA jointly with UNDP, UN Women and UNODC.

The program aims to address health, policing and social services sectors in combatting violence against women.

The National Referral Pathway is the first endorsed multi-sectoral referral mechanism in Egypt institutionalizing the coordinated efforts in the medical, justice and policing and social services to ensure enhanced quality services for women and girls subjected to violence.

Based on global guidelines, UNFPA and partner agencies offered technical support to relevant national stakeholders focusing on combating all forms of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), namely NCW and the Ministries of Justice, Interior, Health and Population and Social Solidarity, to adapt and localize coordination and reporting tools that enhance the effectiveness of service delivery for survivors of violence.