UNFPA today handed-over office equipment, furniture and supplies to the Children and Women units of two Addis Ababa City Administration sub-city police departments. The support which was provided through UNFPA’s partners, the Integrated Family Service Organization, is intended to strengthen the police effort at preventing and providing protection services to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices.

Speaking on the occasion, Bettina Maas, UNFPA Country Representative, said UNFPA is working to realize three transformative results to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, one among which being ending gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls. “The support UNFPA is providing today forms part of the effort at increasing institutional capacity for the development and implementation of legal and policy frameworks aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of women and girls,” she noted mentioning that the current COVID-19 pandemic has increased incidences of sexual and gender-based violence.

On his part, Seleshi Tadesse, Director of Women Mobilization and Participation Enhancement Directorate with the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs, said that the support is critical in strengthening the coordination among various stakeholders in responding to sexual and gender-based violence. Also speaking at the event, Commander Atsede Wordofa from the Addis Ababa Police Commission appreciated the support remarking that it will strengthen their protection work.

The support which UNFPA provided to the police departments was made possible with funding from The Kingdom of Netherlands Embassy as well as the Governments of Canada and Norway.