The Ministry of Gender, Solidarity, and Information in Comoros is working on developing a national legal framework for listening, support, and protection services for women and children victims of violence. An workshop was held on September 22 at the Retaj hotel in Moroni to discuss this initiative. The ministry partnered with UNICEF, UNFPA, the French Red Cross, and the listening service, with funding from the Shawiri project through Eartheco Communication.
The workshop brought together various stakeholders, including Minister of Gender Fatima Ahamada, the ministry's secretary-general, the director-general, jurists, and representatives from organizations advocating for women's and children's protection. The proposed document aims to strengthen existing mechanisms, address shortcomings, and improve coordination among structures providing support to victims. This initiative aligns with the national policy on equity and gender equality, focusing on preventing gender-based violence and protecting women and children.
Minister Fatima Ahamada highlighted the progress made through efforts from the state, civil society, and technical and financial partners. She noted that these efforts contributed to the development of the national roadmap for combating gender-based violence 2026-2030. Ahamada emphasized the need for a legal foundation for existing devices, stating that the goal is to provide victims with adapted listening, protection, and support services.
According to Director-General Mouznat Djoumoi, the development of this framework aims to ensure continuity of actions, improve coordination among stakeholders, and establish sustainable protection mechanisms. She stressed that protecting women and children from violence requires a collective effort from the state, local communities, justice, health, security, civil society, and financial partners.
The initiative has gathered experts and stakeholders to share their experiences and expertise in developing a device tailored to national realities and applicable across the territory. The framework is expected to consolidate existing mechanisms, address gaps, and enhance coordination among support structures. This move is seen as a crucial step towards providing comprehensive support to victims of violence.
The Ministry of Gender's efforts have been recognized, with partners acknowledging the progress made in addressing gender-based violence. The development of a national legal framework is expected to further strengthen the country's response to this issue. The framework's implementation is anticipated to have a positive impact on the lives of women and children victims of violence.
The Comorian government's commitment to addressing gender-based violence is reflected in its policy on equity and gender equality. The development of a national legal framework for listening and support services demonstrates the government's dedication to providing comprehensive support to victims. Key stakeholders will continue to work together to ensure the effective implementation of this initiative.
Key points
- Comoros' Ministry of Gender works on a unified legal framework for support services for women and children victims of violence.
- The framework aims to strengthen existing mechanisms, address shortcomings, and improve coordination among structures providing support to victims.
- The initiative aligns with the national policy on equity and gender equality, focusing on preventing gender-based violence and protecting women and children.
