By: Aqeel Alhamedi, UNDP Basra
UNDP Iraq held a first of its kind awareness raising workshop in Basra on Family Protection.
The workshop provided an overview of UNDP’s Family Support Justice and Security project and the Family Protection Unit in Basra. It identified gaps in treating victims of domestic and gender based violence including the role of Civil Society and the media.
This workshop brought together the key actors on combating Domestic and Gender Based Violence in the Basra governorate. The participants agreed to hold sessions on issues related to combating Domestic and Gender Based Violence including shelters for victims, specialized training to the Family Protection Unit staff, NGOs, Judiciary and empowering the role of female police.
The participants further discussed the need for legislative reform on Domestic and Gender Based Violence. Cooperation between the Family Protection Unit and the Department of Education was also discussed to engage in a series of awareness raising activities throughout the Basra governorate. Enhancing links with the media to show-case the work and services of the Family Protection Unit to the people of Basra was also raised.
This workshop was held as part of UNDP’s Family Support, Justice and Security project which seeks to build the capacity of key decision makers and technical specialists to support survivors of gender based violence including legal counseling and psycho-social and medical assistance. Police at the Family Protection Units are trained on case handling while social and health workers receive technical training on providing counseling services.
Participants in the Basra workshop included representatives from the Governor’s office, provincial council members, judges, the Director General and Head of Educational Guidance at the Department of Education, Department of Health, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Family Protection Unit, Academia, the Civil Society, international NGOs, the media and the United Nations.
For more information please contact Aqeel Al-Hamedi, aqeel.alhamedi@undp.org
For Fast Facts on the Family Support Justice and Security project click on http://www.iq.undp.org/Items/Uploads/36/Family%20Support%20Justice%20and%20Security.pdf
For more information on UNDP’s activities in Basra read our fact sheet http://www.iq.undp.org/Items/Uploads/82/Basra%20Factsheet.pdf