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The Mehwar Center for the Protection and Empowerment of Women and Families

The Mehwar Center for the Protection and Empowerment of Women and Families. Achievements, Lessons Learnt, Way Forward First Arab States South-South Development Expo Doha , February 2014. About the Mehwar Center.

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The Mehwar Center for the Protection and Empowerment of Women and Families

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  1. The Mehwar Center for the Protection and Empowerment of Women and Families Achievements, Lessons Learnt, Way Forward First Arab States South-South Development Expo Doha, February 2014

  2. About the Mehwar Center • First specialized, multi-purpose anti-violence center in Palestine; first center of its kind in the Arab Region • Ten years project, though the Centre started to receive cases in 2007, • Apply a holistic approach combining prevention, protection, empowerment and advocacy components • Overall cost of the initiative: approximately 5.5 million Euros • PA support budget (since 2013): about 300,000 USD per year (including 22 staff members’ salaries and part of running costs) • Policies and procedures based on human rights principles and gender analysis/responsiveness • Overall institutional supervision provided by the Ministry of Social Affairs • UN Women technical support since 2008 • The Mehwar Center cooperates with relevant protection stakeholders and with civil society organizations

  3. The Mehwar Center “investment”Impact on the creation of a national women’s protection system

  4. The Mehwar Center “partners” • Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA): provides overall management and supervision to the Mehwar Centre, develops national policies on VAWG and substantially supports the Centre’s costs, i.e. staff salaries and running costs • Civil Police / Family Protection Units: directly coordinate and cooperate with MoSA/Mehwar Center in referring, protecting and reintegrating VAWG victims • Public Prosecution: directly coordinate and cooperate with MoSA/Mehwar Center in relation to cases of women and girls victims of violence complainants and/or in conflict with the law; and moving towards specialization on VAWG prosecution including development of specialized procedures • Local Authorities, especially Governorates: support Mehwar beneficiaries in terms of protection and reintegration • UN Women: provides specialized technical assistance to MoSA and the Mehwar Centre with regards to adopting human rights-based systems and policies, and to capacity development, in addition to facilitating multi-stakeholder coordination and cooperation and knowledge production • Government of Italy: donor of the Mehwar Centre from 2004 until 2012 • Government of Iceland: donor of the Mehwar Centre since 2013 • Palestinian and International women’s NGOs: provided Mehwar with initial support and technical assistance in specific areas, and now cooperate with Mehwar especially for sheltered women’s reintegration into society

  5. The Mehwar Center “legacy” Outstanding results expected to be replicated • Government engaged in the fight against VAWG including through validation of and support to the provision of specialized anti-violence services, and translation of CEDAW principles into national strategies, policies and mechanisms. • State welfare recognizes gender-based needs of individuals within families and communities, and links them with the protection of citizens’ rights. • Timely and effective protection delivered to women and girls victims of violence and under life-threat. • Human rights and life-requalification enjoyed by VAWG victims. • Families of VAWG victims engaged as protection actors and empowerment advocates. • Multi-sectoral support network and mechanisms for the protection and empowerment of VAWG victims established. • Anti-violence centers’ staff specialized to protect and respond to VAWG-cases. • Key protection actors moved towards VAWG-specialization. • VAWG-related data collection system in place adopting a consistent, human rights-based and victim-focused approach. • Community awareness on VAWG increased through produced evidence.

  6. The Mehwar Center“key lessons learnt” • Need to apply a holistic approach • Always place women at the center • VAW specialization is key • Mobilize gender advocates within key stakeholders • Continue to nourish national dialogue and ownership (to respond to gender needs/VAW – also for sustainability purposes) • Strategically produce evidence and support evidence-based change

  7. The Way Forward: Mehwar at the core of a National Women’s Protection System

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