Indicator 15: There is a national strategy for preventing and combating VAWG with adequate resources, budget, and monitoring and evaluation plan

The States have primary responsibility for action on VAWG, for the implementation of laws, policies, strategies, and services related to it.

There is evidence today that a strategy addressing VAWG with an established national action plan is particularly effective. Such action plans are more likely to have greater impact if they apply a holistic approach of coordinated interventions among relevant responsible actors across sectors at multiple levels and over multiple time-frames, to identify various measures and best steps to achieve one or more specific objectives. The States are accountable for their implementation and responsible to set aside adequate resources to implement this strategy, while women´s rights organisations can help in the development, implementation, as well in monitoring and evaluation.

Four countries have on-going national strategies to combat VAWG: Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon and Tunisia. Palestine strategy ended 2019 and has not been renewed yet. These strategies, however, have not been supported by adequate resources.

Morocco has addressed VAWG through the Governmental Plan for Equality 2017-2021 (Ikram 2) and is working in a strategy for the period until 2030. Ikram 2 aims at ensuring gender equality in general, and combating all forms of discriminating and violence against women through axis four aiming at implementing the laws related to combating discrimination against women. Jordan addressed VAWG through the National Strategy for Women (2020-2025). The second objective of the strategy addresses gender based violence and specifies that “women and girls shall lead a life free of all forms of gender-based violence.”

Countries

Algeria

A National Strategy for Combating VAWG was developed in 2007 by the then Ministry of Family and Women’s Affairs. The strategy has three intervention areas: appropriate and diversified services, community mobilization and social and national solidarity, and alliances building. It has facilitated various small legislative changes such as the amendment of the nationality law, the family law and the penal code. In line with this strategy, there are on-going trainings carried out for judiciary, gendarme and police.

The strategy does not include defined resources, budget and monitoring and evaluation plan. In 2019 the Minister of National Solidarity, Family and Women’s Affairs announced that the ministry was preparing a national strategy for women and family, which has not been launched yet.

Egypt

There is the National Strategy for Combating Violence against Women (2015-2020). The strategy, which was developed by the National Council for Women (NCW), has four areas: prevention, protection, interventions, prosecution, and litigation. The president of Egypt adopted in March 2017 the National Strategy for the Empowerment of Egyptian Women 2030, which includes topics related to combating VAWG. The strategy was developed by the NCW in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and its Sustainable Development Strategy.

The strategy has not been budgeted due to the lack of assessment of the cost of some activities and programs to be implemented by different actors. The funding of a detailed operational action plan depends on three sources: the State as a major funder, community contributions, and the private sector and donors, especially since there is a national and international interest in this issue. CSOs advocate for the implementation of the strategy and for the development of the M&E plan.

Jordan

There is a National Strategy for Women (2020-2025). The strategy was developed by the Jordanian National Commission for Women ( JNCW) and approved by the government.

The second objective is linked to gender based violence and specifies that “women and girls shall lead a life free of all forms of gender-based violence.” The strategy also includes mechanisms for implementation as building effective partnerships, defining roles, monitoring and evaluation, as well as providing resources.

Lebanon

There is the National Strategy for Combating Violence against Women. It was launched in February 2019 by the Office of the former Minister of State for Economic Empowerment of Women and Youth. Additionally, there is a ten-year “National Strategy for Women in Lebanon (2011-2021)” developed by the National Commission of Lebanese Women (NCLW) that aims to empower women and insure gender equality in the social, political, economic, and legal spheres. However, the strategies do not include defined resources, budget and monitoring and evaluation plan.

Morocco

The Ministry of Solidarity, Social Development, Equality and Family adopted the second Government Plan for Equality (ICRAM) 2 for the period 2017–2021. The Ikram 2 follows the Ikram 1 plan, and seeks to combat violence against women and ensure equality between women and men on economic, social, and political levels. The fourth axis of the plan determines six objectives linked to implementing laws on combating discrimination against women, ensuring implementation of laws guaranteeing women’s’ rights, establishing an adequate and effective framework to combat gender-based violence, ensuring protection and support for women victims of gender- based violence, sustainably limiting gender-based violence, and promoting social protection of women. The Ministry of Solidarity, Social Development, Equality and Family is working on a national strategy to combat violence against women for the period until 2030, based on the legal reforms aimed towards women’s protection and the implementation of the government national and international obligations. The development of strategy has applied a participatory approach that includes consultations with various government stakeholders and civil society actors.

Palestine

There is no specific strategy for combating VAWG. However, the Council of Ministers issued a National Policy Agenda: Putting Citizens First 2017–2022. The policy includes the government’s commitment to eliminating all forms of discrimination against women and girls, and institutionalizing gender mainstreaming in policy making. Nevertheless, the policy does not have allocated budget or monitoring and evaluation plan.

Tunisia

The Ministry of Women, Family, Children and Elderly has adopted a National Strategy for Combating Violence against Women within the family and in society since 2008. The strategy was developed through a participatory approach that included various government stakeholders and civil society actors. It aims to review and implement laws on the prevention of violence against women, leading to the drafting and the adoption of a comprehensive law to eliminate violence against women. The strategy was revised in 2019 considering the provisions of this law.

No budget and resources have been allocated to it by the Tunisian State.

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2020 Regional Index on VAWG