WHO signs accord for joint UN programme for women, girls subject to violence

Islamabad: The World Health Organisation (WHO) signed an agreement with UNWOMEN, UNFPA and UNODC here Tuesday to launch a Joint Programme on Essential Services for Women and Girls subjected to Violence and Discrimination Based on Gender and Social Norms in Pakistan (2017-19).

The agreement was signed in the presence of UN Resident Coordinator of Pakistan Niel Buhne. The agreement will be functional from August 2017 to August 2019 and total cost is $250,000, which has initially been mobilized as first trench to start and implement activities by all participating agencies in the first one year. The WHO’s share out of this agreement is $50,000 for the first year.

In this important interagency programme partnership, WHO would be leading the health component of the programme for Strengthening Health System Response to Gender Based Violence all over Pakistan. The interventions are through capacity building of care providers and community health workers in prevention of different forms of violence; first line support to survivors including counselling and psychological care; identification of GBV cases and proper history taking, clinical care and treatment of injuries including HIV prevention; referral to different social services; further medical treatment and legal aid and testing; medico-legal care and examination of victims of sexual violence including child survivors.

Speaking on the occasion, WHO Representative Dr. Muhammad Assai welcomed this important partnership to promote joint UN work and integrated approach to strengthen capacities and delivery of essential services to women, girls and children who are vulnerable groups regarding their social and economic status according to the recent preliminary results of the population census.

“We cannot have women, girls and children be left behind in health, development and well-being because they are experiencing violence, discrimination, exploitation, poverty and inequality,” Dr Assai said, adding that in Pakistan, only 19.3 percent of women reach secondary education while female participation in the labour market is 24.6 percent compared to 82.9 percent for men.

Women’s proportion in public service is only 5% and 32% of women aged 15-49 years have experienced physical violence since the age of 15. “We cannot achieve the SDG goals including Universal Health Coverage if women, girls and children are denied services due to discrimination in their homes and communities. We stand ready to play our role through prevention and capacity building interventions. The joint UN initiative on essential services is an important opportunity for us to contribute and work together for improving the health and well-being of women, girls and children in Pakistan,” he concluded.