UNFPA Turkmenistan in cooperation with the Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan continue the work on adopting the multi-sectoral response to gender-based violence in Turkmenistan. Strengthening the response of police to gender-based violence was the focus of the seminar attended by the police professionals and the members of the National Working Group for the survey on health and status of a woman in the family. The latter plays a role of a key national mechanism to coordinate and provide expert support in the implementation of policy and actions for safeguarding the health and rights of women in the country.
The seminar was facilitated by Dr. Aysel Vazirova and Dr. Gulsara Alieva, UNFPA international experts in the area of gender equality and gender-based violence.
Multi-sectoral response brings together several key sectors, including the police, the legal and justice system, social services and health to identify, refer the cases and provide human-rights-based women-centered support to the women and girls affected by violence. “The multi-sectoral response system is based on the understanding that domestic violence is a complex problem and requires coordinated efforts by all stakeholders,” said Dr. Vazirova. “This system ensures that all mechanisms are involved to reach the best possible effect.”
The importance of the seminar was in strengthening the national platform to support the design and implementation of policy framework for essential services by police for all women and girls who are survivors of domestic violence. The experts walked the participants through the key conceptual aspects of multi-sectoral approach and practical solutions in providing comprehensive and coordinated services to the gender-based violence affected women.
“A positive experience coming from the initial contact with law enforcement bodies plays a critical role for women subjected to violence. That experience shall demonstrate that police professionals are interested in safeguarding the survivor and take the case serious,” said Dr. Alieva.
During the seminar, the participants were exposed to the best regional practices including those of Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Romania, as well as the key components of coordinated actions by healthcare, police and psychosocial support systems and referral mechanisms. The lively discussions and feedback from the participants will feed the development of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for police. The SOPs will be a practical tool for the provision and coordination of quality, women-centered and accountable for survivors services.
The seminar was organized within the framework of UNFPA’s sub-regional project entitled “Strengthening national capacities to improve prevention of, and responses to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Central Asia”, with funding from the UK Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) Central Asia. The overall aim of the project is to contribute to prevention and response to Gender-based violence through a number of strategies and approaches in five Central Asian (CA) countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan).
UNFPA is one of the UN's lead agencies working to further gender equality and women’s empowerment. For more than 30 years, UNFPA has advocated for women and girls, promoting legal and policy reforms and gender-sensitive data collection, and supporting initiatives that improve women's and girls' health and expand their choices in life. UNFPA in Turkmenistan supports the Government of Turkmenistan in the implementation of the National Action Plan on Gender Equality for 2015-2020 that focuses on ensuring gender equality in all spheres of life including legislation, reproductive health and rights, education, employment and many others.
***
For more information, please contact:
Dovran Yamatov, National Programme Analysis
on Gender and Population and Development
+99312 488325
www.instagram.com/unfpa_turkmenistan
imo: +99362 833158
