Syria Today | Centre for vulnerable women to be established

Centre for vulnerable women to be established

The Syrian Women’s Union (SWU) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) signed an agreement aimed at empowering women at risk and victims of gender-based violence on August 20. As part of the agreement, a centre, funded by the UNHCR and run by the SWU, will be set up to provide support to vulnerable local and refugee women in the country.

UNHCR Senior Services Officer Zahra Mirghani said the agreement aims to offer the Syrian government more support in hosting refugees living in Syria.

“This project involves the establishment of a specialised centre for women’s development, providing guidance, training and children’s programmes,” she said. “It will empower women to employ their talents and meet their own needs, especially the most vulnerable amongst them.”

Meanwhile, SWU President Majida Qoteit emphasised the importance of enabling refugee women to “nurture necessary life skills ahead of their eventual repatriation”.

“We appreciate UNCHR concern for refugee issues and their efforts to provide women with skills that will be of use to them when they return to their country of origin,” she said. “The acquisition of these skills will have made their stay in Syria worthwhile and will allow them to rebuild their lives with dignity upon their return.”

The UNHCR estimates that some 11,000 women are at risk in Syria. The SWU works to improve the level of women’s education and boost their social and economic participation.