The Covid19 pandemic and the confinement at home have created a breeding ground for the resurgence of domestic violence in Tunisia as well as in other countries. Statistics from the Green Line of the Tunisian Ministry of Women, Family, Childhood and Seniors (MFFES) show that the current number of reported assaults against women has increased fivefold compared to the same period in 2019.

On 6 April, the MFFES, with the support of UNFPA and in partnership with AFTURD, opened a new emergency shelter for WVV; including 10 containment spaces for a minimum period of 14 days, as a preventive measure against Covid19 prior to accommodation in a special centre.

AFTURD has mobilised a team of 7 volunteers in charge to welcome new women and inform them about the rules of living in the centre during the quarentine; provide them and their children with basic necessities (clothing, toiletries, products, soap, medicines, etc), listen to their problems, monitor their health and whether they need to receive additional specialized psychological help, inform them about the existing laws on combating violence, provide them awareness about Covid19 and make sure that all the spaces and the equipment in the centre are disinfected properly and are safe of use.

The EU-funded project MedTOWN aims to promote the co-production of social policies through the establishment of multi-stakeholders partnerships among Social and Solidarity Economy actors, citizens and local authorities in order to achieve more effective and equal delivery of social services.

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Press release