Every year International Women’s Day gives the opportunity to increase conversation around key issues affecting women. This International Women’s Day, UNFPA participated in a panel organized by Unilever Mashreq, to engage with the Unilever staff in a conversation about domestic violence, how to spot it and how to address it.

The panel addressed two types of domestic violence victims, one who recognizes that they have been subjected to it and one who doesn't.

"We are asking women to raise the awareness of their families, including sons and daughters, and raise them to be equal,” Sally Zohney, UNFPA Gender Program Specialist, said.

UN Women, Inside-Out Counseling Center and E7kky initiative also participated in the panel, where more topics relating to domestic violence were discussed, including the involvement of men in awareness raising and the increased risk of domestic violence due to the lockdown during COVID-19 pandemic.

During 2020, UNFPA, in cooperation with the National Council for Women, inaugurated three medical response clinics in Qasr Al-Ainy, Ain Shams and Mansoura university hospitals, aiming at providing physical and emotional support and services to women who were subjected to violence.