Press Release
Elimination of Violence against Women Special Fund:
First Call for Proposals
01 Oct 2007
As stated by the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women in her last visit to Afghanistan, “violence against women remains dramatic in its intensity and pervasiveness”. Forced and early marriage, domestic violence, sexual harassment and rape, trafficking of women and children, and honor killings are some of the most egregious type of violence perpetrated against women in Afghanistan. Women’s ability to protect themselves is also affected by their limited participation in the social, economic and political spheres, overall lack of awareness on women’s rights, traditional values and de jure and de facto discrimination. The latter is further aggravated by ongoing conflict in parts of the country.
Over the past five years, the government of Afghanistan and the international community has placed initiatives promoting gender equality high on their agenda. In addition, a number of activities have been initiated representing the growing efforts to establish protection and response mechanisms for women at risk as well as raise awareness on violence against women and women’s rights. These activities are carried out with the collaboration and support of the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA) and its provincial departments (DOWAs) and in partnership with international actors, including UN agencies, international NGOs and donors. Most importantly, however, the actual work with women at risk is undertaken by Afghans, in particular Afghan women NGOs, who assists, often under much pressure and risks for their personal safety, other women.
Key challenges currently affecting the delivery of protection and assistance to women at risk and victims of violence include financial sustainability of initiatives, the need to increase the quality and effectiveness of ongoing projects, overall coordination and the need to devise long term sustainable strategies.
The EVAW Special Fund, in its grant making and through the provision of technical expertise, will respond by means of a rights based and multi-sectoral approach to the above mentioned needs. Furthermore, in order to strengthen the cooperation among different stakeholders, the Fund will provide grants for interlinked activities of governmental and non-governmental institutions, and will develop a reporting and data collection mechanism.
UNIFEM has acquired significant experience in the management of multi-lateral grant mechanisms through the Global Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women established in 1996. The initiation of a Special Fund for Afghanistan would enable UNIFEM to place needed resources and to strengthen grassroots NGOs and government in their efforts to enhance the status of Afghan women. The country Fund would also allow for the development of much needed networks and dialogues among women’s NGOs, international NGOs, and decision-makers, particularly on issues of peace, security and reconstruction.
UNIFEM