Combating Violence against Women and Children in Egypt 2007-2012

2. Combating Violence against Women and Children in Egypt2007-2012

3. Some Project Statistics • $18MM project • 5 years in length • Number of VAW NGOs funded: 13 • Geographic reach: governorates across Egypt • 20 certified VAW trainers were trained • Citizens reached through awareness raising and advocacy initiatives: 33,693 (M: 8,152, F: 25,541) • Number of women served by project grantees: 8,407

4. The Challenge: VAW • Violence against women, or VAW, is a universal problem; there is no single or simple solution • It’s a problem that only recently has begun to be addressed in more developed countries, including the U.S.

5. VAW in Egypt • GOE surveys have for years shown that VAW is a problem • 2005 poll yielded some frightening statistics and attitudes • Nearly half of women aged 15-49 who had been married subjected to violence • Half of women said husband is justified in hitting his wife if she disobeys him • 40% of women said an acceptable reason was wife going out without telling husband; 20% said burning meal was a valid reason

6. USAID’s Involvement • High level interest in women’s issues including VAW • Opportunity to build local capacities and reach and help Egyptian women • Unique among USAID projects globally

7. Analyzing the Challenge • VAW is multi-faceted and must be attacked on many levels • Like all gender challenges, addressing it requires engagement and support of both women and men

8. Legal/Policy/Institutional Challenge • VAW is a legal and justice sector issue

9. Social/Attitudinal Challenge • VAW also is a social issue • Lack of laws/policy and lack of implementation reflects citizens’ attitudes

10. Tackling the Challenge • Design • Implementation • Following local lead • Tracking/analyzing media

11. Assembling the Team • Only ex pat was the COP • Senior professional staff with experience and relationships

12. Gathering Data/Building Consensus • First step: understand the nature/extent of problem • Groundbreaking study used to design interventions • Community level research on transactional marriages

13. Egypt Violence against Women Study • Summary of study: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADQ885.pdf • VAW – a continuing problem • High numbers of women victimized • Legal reforms needed • Lack of services • Lack of use of services • Media portray it as “women’s issue”

14. Track One: “Top Down” Policy Interventions • VAW Strategy Framework • Advocacy and public awareness initiatives

15. Track Two: Grass Roots Solutions • Grant program • Support to NGOs across Egypt to enable them to develop and implement locally appropriate, coordinated community responses to gender-based violence

16. The Project’s Support to NGOs • Funding • Technical assistance • Training • Networking • Materials and tools • Final “fair” and video

17. Locally Appropriate Approaches • Focus was on local solutions so worked with community-based NGO grantees • How to change attitudes? Work with locally respected institutions and leaders and both women and men

18. Grantee Initiatives • Advocacy and awareness • Legal services • Economic empowerment/life skills • Psychological counseling including listening and counseling • Referrals • New models of care in shelters

19. The Results • Groundbreaking Egypt VAW Study • National strategy • Built local capacity to conduct advocacy, education, and provide services (and left written tools/resources) • Educated and engaged citizens • Provided services to victims • Growing network of qualified, committed advocates and service providers

20. Lessons Learned • Changing behaviors requires changing mindsets • Changing behaviors requires many stakeholders • Changing behaviors must be grounded in local realities

21. Recommendations • GOE needs to dedicate human and funding resources • NGOs need continued outside support • USAID should continue support and can do so via DG sector and other sectors including health, education, economic growth