Arab League Launches Regional Initiative to End Violence Against Women in Cooperation with the United Nations
Cairo, Aug 2 (KUNA) -- The Arab League launched today, Sunday, in collaboration with UN Women, a regional initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls in the Arab region and to enhance coordination among Arab states in this regard. The Arab League said in a statement that this came during a high-level event held at the United Nations Office at Geneva, with participation by an Arab League delegation headed by Director of the Women’s Affairs Department and Minister Plenipotentiary Duaa Khalifa, along with representatives of member states, relevant entities concerned with women’s issues, and United Nations agencies.
The statement added that Khalifa emphasized in her opening address that the initiative represents a qualitative leap in the trajectory of joint Arab action and embodies the political will of Arab states to promote and protect women’s rights and to build safer and more just societies. It also constitutes the fruit of an institutional partnership between the Arab League and UN Women.
The statement quoted UN Women’s Regional Director, Dr. Moaz Dorid, expressing the international organization’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and regional and international cooperation to combat all forms of violence against women and girls, and to support national efforts in this field.
The event featured the presentation of the Regional Strategic Framework prepared by the Arab League with technical support from UN Women, as a voluntary regional reference aimed at harmonizing perspectives and enhancing coordination among Arab states in efforts to prevent violence against women and girls and to respond to it.
The statement clarified that the framework respects the specificity, sovereignty, and national priorities of each country, aligns with relevant Arab and international commitments, and contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5 on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
It affirmed that the framework is based on four main strategic pillars: legal and institutional development; access to justice; prevention, awareness, and media; and protection and support services, alongside data and research. It also includes an implementation action plan for the period 2026–2030, thereby strengthening national ownership, multi-sectoral approaches, and a survivor-centered methodology.
The statement stressed the importance of continuing cooperation between the Arab League and United Nations agencies to mobilize the necessary political, technical, and financial support for implementing the Strategic Framework, ensuring that women and girls can live in an environment free from violence. (End) M.M. / N.S.
