The annual training on gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls for partner organizations was co-chaired by UNFPA and UNHCR on August 14.
Bringing together a diverse group of 50 participants from various organizations, including the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), and other UN agencies like Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Care International, Saint Andrews Refugee Services (StARS), the Egyptian Red Crescent, Caritas, Balqees, Save the Children, Etijah, SCI, the National Population Council, the Egyptian Foundation for Refugee Rights, United Lawyers, and other essential partners, the training aimed to address GBV comprehensively and cohesively in Egypt.
The GBV sub-working group in Egypt, co-chaired by UNFPA and UNHCR, is an inter-agency coordinating body that supports a comprehensive and coordinated approach to GBV affecting asylum-seekers, refugees, and other persons of concern in Egypt, including prevention and response activities.
The training focused on two key priority themes: Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE). These topics are directly linked to the current focus on the response to the Sudan crisis and the role played by aid organizations, the UN, and humanitarian and development partners in Egypt.
The first training session provided a comprehensive overview of the criticality of adopting and ensuring the provision of safe reporting channels for all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse offered by humanitarian actors. Ms. Salma Hassan, IOM Emergency Response Coordinator, and PSEA Focal Person, delivered this session. In the second training session, UNFPA GBV focal Persons from Sudan Country Office, Ms. Noha Al Eryani and Ms. Samah Fageer reflected on existing practices adopted in the region to prioritize GBV response and address emergency contexts.
The training served as a platform to share existing practices and knowledge to improve the GBV response in Egypt, particularly in urgent situations. Through the comprehensive and coordinated approach provided by the GBV sub-working group, the training aimed to help partner organizations address GBV and ensure the provision of safe reporting channels. By bringing together the expertise of various organizations, the training aimed to strengthen the collective response to GBV in Egypt, including addressing the specific challenges posed by the Sudan crisis.
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