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Jerusalem, June 2020:  the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Palestine country office, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) The Autonomous Communities of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, La Rioja, Murcia, Valencia, Canarias, Extremadura, Islas Baleares, Madrid and Castilla y Leon signed a grant to implement prevention, mitigation and response to the humanitarian Gender Based Violence (GBV) needs in East Jerusalem.

Building on the successful collaboration between UNFPA and the AECID in 2018-2019, the latter together with the Autonomous Communities of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, La Rioja, Murcia, Valencia, Canarias, Extremadura, Islas Baleares, Madrid and Castilla y Leon has generously contributed the amount of 250,000 euros to improve availability of safe and high quality multi-sectorial services and protection of vulnerable women and girls in the affected communities in East Jerusalem, and to enhance the knowledge and awareness of vulnerable groups of women and girls, in the affected communities on GBV, it consequences and the available services in their communities.

The project will expand safe and equal access to adequate multi-sectoral services for East Jerusalem women, girls, men, and boys’ survivors of GBV, including women with disabilities, through UNFPA partner GBV service providers. It will build on two existing safe spaces and increase access to GBV services through the establishment of a counselling room at the Palestinian Red Crescent Hospital in Jerusalem.

 

“Providing services in East Jerusalem is a challenge because it is not possible to apply the West Bank referral system” Eva Suarez, Head of the Spanish cooperation  office in Jerusalem said. “In this project we are therefore working closely with the Hemaya Network, which links organizations providing essential support to GBV survivors both inside and outside the separation barrier”.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, service providers have seen a sharp increase in demand for GBV services. The project will be aligned with the Interagency oPt COVID 19 Response Plan and the UNCT oPt COVID19 Development Response plan to respond to sexual and reproductive health and social protection needs, and immediate humanitarian consequences of the pandemic in East Jerusalem area.

This project will be implemented through close collaboration with the Family Planning and Protection Association (PFPPA) in East Jerusalem.

 
For more information, please contact:

United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA:
Ms. Kristine Blokhus, UNFPA Representative, blukhos@unfpa.org

AECID:
Eva Suarez, Head of Spanish Cooperation Office in Jerusalem, eva.suarez@aecid.es
Itziar de Miguel, Project Manager, itziar.demiguel@aecid.es