Chairman National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA) Lt. Gen Omar Mahmood Hayat has said that
sensitization of Humanitarian Worker on Gender Based Violence during
emergencies is a major component of preparedness for disasters . He stated this
while addressing the participant of a three daysNational Training Workshop on “Preparedness
against Gender Based Violence in Emergencies” here in Islamabad.
Lt. Gen Omar has said that
women were the 49% of the population in Pakistan and their participation in the
development was mandatory for the progress of the country. Their interests must
a safeguarded in all situations and they must be provided equal opportunities
to participate the developmental activities, he said. He observed that such
conducive working environment for women workers and their protection during
emergencies can only be ensures by sensitizing humanitarian worker and general
public at large on the subject.
The National Training
Workshop was organized by NDMA in collaboration with UNFPA from 18-20 September
at NDMA in Islamabad. Key representatives fromPunjab, Balochistan, Sindh, KPK
and ICT from various Government Ministries and Departments, members of the GBV
Protection cluster partners, UN agencies and NGOs,who are active in
humanitarian preparedness and response and in capacity to influence humanitarian
programming, policy development in the field, participated in the workshop.
The training workshop was
aimed at providing the participants a brief overview of the process of
incorporating Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response into
humanitarian assessments, strategic planning, project cycle and monitoring and
accountability.
While speaking at the
occasion UNFPA Representative Ms. Anna said that Women’s socio-cultural
positioning exposes them to greater risks of GBV during disasters and
protracted emergencies. For the humanitarian community, the overarching
challenge is to prevent GBV,while standing ready to respond effectively when it
occurs,she said. She further urged that responders need to make themselves
aware of possible risk factors and become sensitive to GBV across their
prevention, preparedness, and response and recovery efforts.
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