The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) said that the United Nations supported the rehabilitation and renovation of 4 shelters that provide various services for women and girls, Those who are exposed to risk or gender-based violence in the West Bank and Gaza.
They added in a joint press release today, Wednesday, that this comes within the framework of the Joint Life Program, funded by the Canadian government, and in cooperation with local partners, as the safe houses include the Center for the Protection and Empowerment of Women and the Family "Mehwar" in Bethlehem, and the Safe House Association in Nablus, And the emergency house in Jericho, and the center of life in Gaza.
They explained that the safe houses, after their rehabilitation and renewal, became more comprehensive, take into account gender considerations, and contained environmentally friendly and child-friendly spaces that provide a higher level of services to meet the different needs of women and girls.
The representative of Canada to Palestine, Robin Whitelover, said that protecting women and girls from violence, and supporting services provided to survivors, is a global priority for her country´s government, adding that these homes will provide important services at a time when we have witnessed an increase in gender-based violence due to the challenges presented by the pandemic. Corona.
For his part, Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services, Tokumitsu Kobayashi, said that the rehabilitation and renewal of shelters comes as a commitment from the office to create a gender-sensitive infrastructure infrastructure, in order to respond to their diverse needs in society.
In turn, the director of the safe house in Nablus, Ikhlas Soufan, appreciated this work, noting that these changes not only changed the work environment for the employees working in the place for the better, but also positively affected the morale of the women at home.
"The rehabilitation work has taken the diverse needs of women and girls into consideration, which will help them feel safe and empowered in a more inclusive space equipped with renewable energy technologies," she added.
For her part, the Special Representative of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women in Palestine, Maris Jaimond, explained that since the emergence of the "Corona" virus, violence against women has escalated all over the world and there has become an urgent need for safe houses, specialized telephone lines, and crisis centers, as well as Civil society organizations and women´s rights institutions.
"Women and girls in Palestine can access the protection and support they need during difficult times, by working together, and by prioritizing basic services to survivors," she added.
