UNFPA and the National Council for Women (NCW) conducted a training session for staff members of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Cairo on sexual harassment in the workplace, on October 11.

The training comes under UNFPA’s Anti-Violence Against Women Unit at NCW and NCW’s Complaints Office, in partnership with Marriott Hotels. The training is part of joint UNFPA and NCW efforts to raise capacities of service providers to respond to all forms of violence against women, including in the workplace.

Mona Al-Ghazaly, National Coordinator of UNFPA’s Anti-Violence Against Women Unit, gave an overview of the impact of violence against women and harassment in the workplace, as well as the work of UNFPA and the NCW in facilitating access to services offered to women subjected to violence.

On her part, Amal Abdel Moneim, Director of NCW’s Complaints Office spoke about the NCW’s work and its alignment with international conventions on human rights and women. She explained NCW’s role in implementing national initiatives by raising awareness in governorates across Egypt. The Complaints Office, in partnership with the public prosecution office, is able to offer legal and psychological support to victims of violence through a free-of-charge hotline services, personal legal counseling services across all governorates.

 Judge Ahmed Al-Nagar, legal expert at the Unit, delivered a session to explain to the hotel staff the legal framework on violence against women, including all related constitutional and legal articles. He  explained that the 2014 constitution protects women against all forms of violence including cybercrime, rape, harassment and bullying, and addressed all questions from the staff.