Under the ongoing partnership between UNFPA and the National Council for Women (NCW) to expand and strengthen the response of existing “Anti Violence against Women University Units” and with the support of USAID, a series of training and meetings took place with different representatives of University Units during the first quarter of the year. 

The first round of training targeted representatives from Helwan, Port-Said East Technology University, Port-Said Public University, Bani Sueif and Arish Universities. The format of the training is designed around the Women Empowerment 2030 National Strategy, results of recent national research and previous results achieved by University Units. The training is also based on the direct needs and specificity of each campus, and is an important opportunity to reflect on on-campus and external coordination and the role of the Units to increase awareness on forms of gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls. 

The previous period witnessed increased presence of the University Units to reach a total of 40 Universities in Egypt, each campus offering safe reporting channels for women to come forward with any incident of sexual violence or abuse. NCW has provided instrumental support to each campus to develop their internal reporting channels, universities’ committees and provides regular capacity building workshops in partnership with UNFPA on latest procedures and priority areas in GBV response. 

During each meeting, University Units representatives discussed the direct referral channels to University Hospitals with “Safe Women clinics”, to local Women’s Complaints Offices, shelters, civil society and legal services. Meetings are also an opportunity to present latest legislative procedures on GBV crimes, women’s health updates and scope of multi-sectoral response. University representatives also presented their annual plans and areas of priority, and also the role of Units in offering female victims of GBV immediate psychological support, and information on additional services available. 

UNFPA provides support to all existing Universities Units to ensure their ability to address incoming reports, and to identify the needs of GBV victims. In partnership with NCW, UNFPA also works on expanding the presence of the model to cover all Universities in Egypt, to ensure a safe educational environment for women.