UN Women, partners launch shelters for GBV/CRSV Survivors in Amhara, Tigray Regions

UN Women Ethiopia is addressing the challenges posed by Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) by strengthening, expanding, and standardizing essential services for survivors. This includes supporting the establishment of shelters, one-stop centers, and hotlines in various regions of Ethiopia, aligned with the United Nations Global Essential Services Package. To this end, UN Women launched two shelters to provide services for survivors of violence against women, including Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV). The shelter in Kombolcha town of the Amhara region, run by UN Women’s implementing partner Association of Women in Sanctuary and Development (AWSAD), was launched on August 8, 2024. The Axum shelter, managed by the Women Association of Tigray (WAT), one of the pioneering organizations in Tigray, was inaugurated on October 10, 2024. The launch events in both towns were attended by representatives from stakeholders, Offices of Women and Social Affairs, Justice, Health, One-Stop Centers, police, courts, as well as community and religious leaders.

A Safe House for Survivors of CRSV launched in Kombolcha

A new project titled "Increase Access to Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services for Women and Girls Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) in Amhara Region," supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), facilitated the establishment of the Kombolcha safe house.

Speaking on behalf of Ms. Cecile Mukarubuga, UN Women Ethiopia representative, Ms. Helina Atlabachew emphasized that the Kombolcha shelter marks a significant step in addressing the urgent needs of CRSV survivors and women affected by conflict in the Amhara region. The shelter provides essential services, creates economic opportunities, builds the capacity of service providers, and implements community-based interventions to foster sustainable recovery and resilience for survivors.

Speaking at the launching, Deputy Mayor of Kombolcha City, Mr. Wondwossen Lisanework, highlighted the importance of the shelter, noting that the city’s position as a hub for manufacturing and migration makes addressing GBV a critical need.

Launching of Shelter in Axum

The Women Association of Tigray (WAT) is one of the pioneering organizations in Tigray to provide shelter services for survivors of violence against women and girls (VAWG). UN Women signed partnership agreement with WAT to address conflict related sexual violence through the provision of comprehensive shelter services. To this end, a shelter, the first of its kind in western Tigray, has been established in Axum to fill a critical gap in the area. On October 10, 2024, WAT inaugurated the shelter in the presence of various key stakeholders.