Egypt, UNFPA, WHO launch Arabic version of healthcare protocol for women subjected to GBV

10 / 07 / 2022

By Marwa Nassar - -

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population have launched the Arabic version of the Protocol on the Healthcare for Women Subjected to gender-based violence (GBV) in Egypt.

The protocol covers physical and mental health, and the responsibility of service providers to refer victims of violence to the relevant entities. The protocol also includes a screening tool to help non-specialized doctors with assessing risks factors and with making the correct referrals.

This protocol is the update on the national protocol on management of GBV, which was produced in partnership with UNFPA in 2014. The updated 2019 national protocol revises the national health sector policies, guidelines, protocols, and tools related to responding to violence against women and girls based in the Essential Service Package and the WHO’s guidelines.

The consensus meeting – in which protocol was launched – was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Health and Population, the Ministry of Justice, the National Council for Women (NCW) and various other UN agencies.

Frederika Meijer, UNFPA Representative in Egypt, highlighted the effects of GBV and explained why this protocol on the healthcare for GBV survivors will become the basis for medical professionals and service providers and will provide the tools on the best practices for the care of victims of violence.