Under the generous patronage of the Ministry of Social Development of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States (Social Affairs Sector – Women Department) in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees organized the regional meeting on the “Implementation of the Arab Strategy for the Prevention and Response to Combat All Forms of Violence in Asylum Context, especially Sexual Violence against Women and Girls”, on 8-9 May 2023, in Amman, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The Arab Strategy for the Prevention and Response to Combat All Forms of Violence in Asylum Context, especially Sexual Violence against Women and Girls, prepared by the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States (Social Affairs Sector – Women Department) in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and approved by the Council of the League of Arab States at the Ministerial level Council in its 155th session in March 2021 to provide an Arab guiding framework that supports the efforts of member states in protecting refugees from violence, especially violence against women and girls, by strengthening prevention, protection, and response to all forms of violence, including sexual violence. This framework includes the adoption, review, and implementation of legislation and policies in line with national legislation and international covenants.
The regional meeting aims at defining regional priorities in the field of preventing and responding to violence against women and girls in asylum situations in the Arab region, within the framework of the plan of action annexed to the strategy, in consultation between the concerned authorities in the member states, part of the League of Arab States, and other actors working in the field of prevention of violence against women and girls and the response to it in the Arab region, as well as a review of current national efforts and strategies on addressing violence against women and girls in asylum context. The meeting also aims at highlighting the importance of providing high-quality services, ensuring the quality of mental health and psychosocial support, in addition to focusing on the importance of providing support to countries hosting refugees to enable them to continue providing specialized sectoral services to refugee women and girls.
During the opening session of the regional meeting, Her Excellency Ambassador Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh – Assistant Secretary-General, Head of the Social Affairs Sector stated that “this meeting sheds light on a very important issue “violence against women and girls in asylum context”. Women and girls are still exposed to multiple risks in light of the escalation of conflicts and the exacerbation of inequalities”. Adding that everyone knows that women and girls in refugee context are more exposed to violence than others, due to their difficult social conditions, unequal access to education, poor professional integration, and also due to the lack of economic resources they have, which all make them unable to break free from the violent relationships they face and more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
Her Excellency Mrs. Wafa Saeed Bani Mustafa – Minister of Social Development of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan expressed that “wars and conflicts cannot be merciful to anyone, but they are more cruel to women. The inevitability of women and girls as victims of armed conflicts requires their involvement in the negotiation and peace-building process.”
Mr. Hy Shelow, Head of MENA Protection Services in the Middle East and North Africa Bureau of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees affirmed that in facing current challenges, the strategy helps provide a common framework for action in the Arab region for governments, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and other key partners, including other UN agencies, international and national NGOs, and community-based organizations, to strengthen prevention and response to gender-based violence in the refugee context.”
Her Excellency Mrs. Houria Al-Tarmal – Minister of State for Women Affairs, State of Libya, explained that “the issue today is not a mere national issue, but rather a crisis that the world suffers from without exception, but it is more dangerous in the countries that attract refugees and migrants, including Libya, which we find a transit area for the people of Africa… We all strive, in our different countries to protect humankind and preserve human dignity, but we often stand helpless in the face of sexual assaults, especially against women, regardless of their age or gender.
“There could not have been a more appropriate date for holding this meeting to unify the voice of the Arab world to stand with women and girls who are at greater risk of sexual and gender-based violence,” said Ms. Pramila Patten, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict.
Ms. Reem Al-Salem, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls, its Causes and Consequences, noted that there are many reasons why states have an obligation to prevent violence against refugee and migrant women and girls who arrive from another country in search of safety. Doing so is also essential to protect “The future of a country in crisis”. When a host country guarantees the safety and security of the women and girls fleeing a country, and represent half of its society, it contributes directly to that country’s ability to rise again, rebuild itself, and prosper.”
The regional meeting will be held with the high-level participation of a number of ministers, ambassadors, and representatives of stakeholders from member states part of the Arab League space, as well as actors concerned with women and girls, relevant UN offices and agencies, and relevant stakeholders.
The meeting addresses the link between the strategy and the broader protection framework for women and girls, global and regional initiatives, the role of prevention in a comprehensive approach to address conflict-related sexual violence in places of refuge, child marriage, the legal framework for gender equality and violence against women, in addition to presenting the national efforts made by Member States to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against women and girls in asylum.
The regional meeting will also present a set of recommendations reflecting regional priorities in the field of preventing and responding to violence against women and girls in refugee settings in the Arab region.
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