Statement by
Fabrizia Falcione, Deputy Representative, UNFPA Syria on the occasion of 16 days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence
26 November 2020
Today, around the world, crises continue to ravage and tear apart innocent lives. Many are left dead, injured, devastated and sick while property is destroyed. Women and girls caught up in crisis-affected contexts and in multiple layers of vulnerabilities face existing and increased risks of Gender Based Violence, including in their efforts to earn a living. Syria is no exception.
Global studies indicate that one out of three women around the world will experience physical and/or sexual violence over the course of her lifetime.
The last ten years of crisis in Syria has had far reaching implications and disproportionately affected the lives of women and girls further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
UNFPA continues to prioritize interventions that promote the wellbeing of women and girls in Syria and calls on all stakeholders during this year’s 16 Days campaign of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence to join hands towards promoting gender equality in Syria.
“Women are the backbone of families and communities. Empowered women and girls, with access to opportunities and choices in work and education as well as in managing their health, including in reproductive health, and wellbeing, will not only contribute to the society’s economic growth but also to more resilient families and communities”, Fabrizia Falcione, Deputy Representative UNFPA Syria Office commented during the campaign.
The 16 days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence is an annual global campaign that starts on 25th November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on 10th December, International Human Rights Day.
UNFPA, in cooperation with 15 local partners, will support numerous activities through public awareness programmes in 13 governorates using theatre, music and films during the two-week campaign: engaging youth and women in diverse cultural activities that focus attention on the significance of reproductive health and the importance to achieve gender equality passing necessarily for the condemnation and elimination of all forms of gender-based violence.
UNFPA continuously works to increase capacity of the health system to deliver quality integrated reproductive health (RH) services, particularly for the people affected by the crisis including host communities and displaced populations with a special focus on women and adolescent girls and also including men and boys. Reproductive health services provided by UNFPA include: antenatal and postnatal care, emergency obstetric and newborn care, and family planning. UNFPA also continues to conduct awareness-raising sessions on COVID-19 through static clinics and mobile teams on Reproductive Health related topics.
UNFPA programs expanded the coverage for Gender Based Services (GBV) by supportingWomen and Girls Safe Spaces, Community Wellbeing Centers and a Family Protection Unit that also functions as a shelter for women and girl survivors of GBV. Through these facilities, UNFPA provided essential and life-saving integrated services including: GBV case management, psychosocial support, referral services and awareness sessions.
“This year COVID-19 has fanned the flames. With women locked at home with abusers and household tensions high, calls for help skyrocketed. Many went unanswered because shelters and other services were shut down, but also because assistance is often still not enough, including in humanitarian crises”, UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem stated on the International Day to End Violence against Women.
“Today, as we mark the International Day to End Violence against Women, it is a moment for everyone to pause and remember how far we have to go on this issue” Dr. Kanem continued.
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, works to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in 135 countries. Over 40 of these are countries affected by crises, which exacerbate women and girls’ vulnerability.
On this occasion, UNFPA renews its commitment to protect the health and rights of women and girls, given that every woman and girl has the right to live free of gender-based discrimination and violence.
For more information, please check:
http://www.unfpa.org/gender-based-violence
http://arabstates.unfpa.org/public/
https://www.facebook.com/UNFPA-Syria
https://twitter.com/UnfpaSyria
