Tunis,  From 6 to 10 November, UNFPA, in partnership with ONFP (National Office for Family and Population, Tunis) and RCT (Regional Center for Training, Cairo) and in collaboration with the Libyan Ministry of Health and the NCDC (National Center for Diseases Control), organizes an advanced training of trainers on Women Protection dedicated to the health sector.

A group of experts from different municipalities (Tripoli, Benghazi, Tobruq, Sabha, Jadu, Misurata and Derna) with different medical backgrounds will be trained on gender and protection issues. 

    
The participants will learn how to identify, prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against women at both community and local level, providing psychosocial and medical assistance to victims and vulnerable women.  The experts will then be responsible to train other colleagues in Libya to transmit their knowledge, begin discussions on these important subjects, and establish an effective referral system by developing specific manuals. 

The health sector has a key role in preventing and intervening in the case of violence, and since health care centers are often the first interface with women facing abuse or violence, they can have an essential role both in raising awareness and assisting the survivors.

Dr. Ridha Gataa, President and General Manager of ONFP, highlighted that addressing violence against women is essential to reach gender equality and fundamental to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
The United Nations Population Fund, Libya Office (UNFPA) is working to eradicate marginalization, discrimination and violence against women in Libya. Based on a multi-dimensional/sectoral approach, UNFPA aims at strengthening the capacity of relevant government entities to provide adequate services for vulnerable women and young girls. 

 “Discrimination and violence against women is a major health and human rights issue. In Libya pre-existing violence has been further exacerbated during the conflict and we need to intervene to secure prevention and protection services to women, especially to the most vulnerable ones such as IDPs, refugees and young girls”, says Dr Georges M. Georgi, UNFPA Country Director for Libya.