Strengthened Access to Justice for Women Affected by Violence through Proven Culturally Sensitive Approaches

Introduction

The project entitled “Strengthened Access to Justice for Women Affected by Violence through Proven Culturally Sensitive Approaches” was aimed to provide training and capacity building programs for wide range of participants including Local norm setters such as Khateebs, Justice Sector employees, CDG facilitators, CDG members, university students and teachers. The main emphasis was building their awareness on topic related to women’s right in Islam and EVAW Law.

With this 12-month project, EPD’s objective was to improve access to justice mechanisms for women affected by violence through proven culturally-sensitive approaches. EPD had already started its activities in this regard in Parwan and Panjsheer and during the period of June 2016 till August 2017 expanded its activities to Kabul and Kapisa. The project strived to increase the number of violence against women (VAW) cases resolved with positive outcomes for women through informal and formal justice processes in accordance with women’s rights under Islam and the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) Law.

 Activities

The project supported establishing Family Resolution Centers (FRCs), comprised of traditional and religious leaders, school teachers, representatives from Departments of Women’s Affairs, Ulama, Council members, family court judges, and other influential male and female leaders who are members of shuras/jirgas, to provide advice and counseling to those women who are victims of violence in Kabul and Kapisa.

EPD organized capacity building training in Kabul, kapisa, Parwana and Panjshir for a wide range of audience including employees of Department of Women Affairs (DoWA) and employee of Women Protection Centers (WPC), Community Dialogue Group (CDG), family resolution centers (FRCs), police, prosecutors, judges, Khateebs, school teacher and Special VAW Unit in Attorney General‘s Office. The curriculum were 18 booklet verified by ministry of haj and religious affairs and EWAVL including such topics as conflict resolution, religious pluralism, women’s right within Islam, the LEVAW, anti- corruption principles and mechanisms, marriage and engagement and other topic related to women’s rights.

Most importantly, during this project, EPD built the capacity of EVAW Units at the Attorney Generals’ Offices in the field of management to improve the functioning of these units, and deliver technical assistance to the Directorate of Women’s Affairs and Women’s Protection Centre.