National Action Plan on Gender Based Violence

Brief Description

As required by Art. 13 (1) of the Law Against Domestic Violence (LADV), the Government developed a National Action Plan (NAP) on Gender Based Violence (GBV) which was adopted by the Council of Ministers in 2012 (Resolution No. 21/2012). The NAP-GBV (2012-2014) had a four year implementation timeframe, however, the timeframe was extended and its implementation continues. The NAP-GBV has 4 major pillars: on prevention,provision of services, access to justice and coordination monitoring and evaluation. The NAP –GBV includes a Monitoring framework as well . In 2015 the implementation of the NAP-GBV was evaluated and currently the government is revising the NAP –GBV based on the recommendations from the evaluation. The first pillar of the NAP-GBV is focused on prevention and aims at changing attitudes and behavior through awareness raising, education political and economic empowerment. The prevention pillar has three main goals: 1) to eliminate stereotypes and harmful practices that contribute toward gender-based violence, 2) To address inequality as a cause of GBV through strengthening the political and economic empowerment of women, 3) To achieve coordination at all levels, including between government ministries, institutions, service providers and civil society in prevention and awareness efforts on GBV and DV.

The second pillar of the National Action Plan on Gender Based Violence (NAP-GBV) focused on provision of services to victims of GBV. It aims at addressing the needs of victims without discrimination, through the provision of easily accessible and confidential services, supported by trained professional service providers. It has five major goals: 1) All victims of GBV and DV have access to adequately resourced, professiona and gendersensitive emergency health care in safe and confidential environments, 2) All victims of GBV and DV have access to safe places where professional staff provide assistance, referral services and programs, 3) All victims of GBV and DV have access to adequate and professionally trained social assistance and counseling services, 4) All victims of DV can access mechanisms that provide for increased economic independence from their abusers, 5) All victims of GBV and DV have access to coordinated specialized support, health and protection services that abide by established Standard Operating Procedures and Professional Codes of Ethics ensuring respect and confidentiality