The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has funded the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls initiative with an initial investment of $9.7 million.
The initiative aims to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls through a partnership with CARE, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and UN Women, according to the statement.
Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine El-Qabbaj, President of the National Council for Women Maya Morsy, and US embassy Chargé d’Affaires Evyenia Sidereas, among others, attended the launch of the initiative.
“Violence against women and girls is a challenge that all countries face. This initiative will build on the shared Egyptian and American value of honouring the dignity of all people by working toward the full equality of women and girls in our societies,” the embassy noted.
The initiative will build upon and expand the US government’s longstanding partnerships with the Egyptian government ministries, public international organizations, civil society organizations, universities, religious leaders, media, and others, the statement added.
The embassy said the move will advance Egyptian efforts to expand women and girls’ participation in society, promote economic and social empowerment, and counter all forms of violence.
The US government has partnered with Egypt for decades to support the empowerment of women and girls, the embassy added, noting that previous collaborations had raised violence prevention awareness and increased access to services for violence survivors.
Egypt has enacted several pieces of legislation over the past eight years to empower women and protect them against all forms of violence, the latest of which was appointing women judges and toughening penalties for sexual harassment.
Short link: