Global data indicated that the COVID-19 outbreak has intensified domestic and gender-based violence (GBV), as in any other type of health pandemics. During the outbreak where movement is restricted, people are confined and availability of and access of services are likely to be limited, women and girls are at greater risk of experiencing gender-based violence.
Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC) is committed to supporting human rights and gender equity in the programme. ARHC, as a Principal Recipient of the Global Fund, put specific efforts to strengthen the gender-based approach through all the processes in the programme and to support its Sub-Recipients to ensure equity for key populations at risk or most affected in the context of the gender-based approach.
In order to support the continuation of GBV interventions as a life-saving intervention, ARHC, in collaboration with UNFPA, conducted online GBV training for its Sub-Recipients, especially for non-GBV specialized partners. The objectives of the training are to understand GBV mainstreaming in prevention and response of GBV and increase the knowledge of partners to adapt the services for GBV in the context of COVID 19.
Conducted in two batches (4th & 5th and 8th & 9th June), the training brought together 38 participants who actively participated. The training was facilitated by Ma Phyu Kyi Khaing, UNOPS Gender Equality Specialist, Ma Lai Win Phyu, UNFPA GBV Programme Analyst and Ma Naw Teresa Maung, UNFPA GBV Programme Analyst.
Ma Phyu Kyi Khaing, UNOPS Gender Equality Specialist said, “This GBV and COVID-19 training could bring in-depth knowledge on the importance of mainstreaming gender-based violence response in health services that have been provided by our partners. I believe participants will be able to identify the GBV cases and know how to provide appropriate health and referral services for the best benefits of the survivors.”
The training covers basic concepts of gender and GBV, the relation between GBV and COVID-19 and the role of health actors in addressing GBV. According to UN Women, domestic violence reports and/or calls have increased 33 per cent in Singapore, 30 percent in Cyprus, 30 percent in France and 25 percent in Argentina.
Dr. Su Su Oo, Field Support Coordinator of Myanmar Anti-Narcotics Association shared with us how the training was useful for her and for the organization. “Our organization is currently implementing harm reduction activities for injecting drug users, drug users and their spouses. We have future plans to include activities to reduce harmful gender norms and violence against women and girls. Hence, attending this training was very beneficial for our organization,” she said.
Dr. Kyaw San Wai, Research and Evaluation Officer of UMFCCI Corporate Social Responsibility Department said this training is very timely so that UMFCCI and the UMFCCI-CSR Department can become more active in raising advocacy, responding to and preventing GBV through our project and outreach activities.
“The training will enable me to better incorporate gender sensitivity and knowledge of gender-based violence into the department's overall activities, and also to utilize it in our advocacy and engagement with the business sector to address GBV in their workforces and communities,” he added.
In addition to this GBV training, ARHC is also planning to conduct the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA) training for its Sub-Recipients during this year.
