The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, and the Australian High Commission in Mauritius have teamed up to promote gender equality and maintain the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) through the signing of the Direct Aid Programme.
At the signing ceremony, the Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Kalpana Devi Koonjoo-Shah, highlighted the unflinching support of the UNDP and the Australian government, saying it has enabled the ministry to embark on innovative programmes and projects for the promotion of gender equality and protection from gender-based violence.
She noted that the project would benefit those in need – including vulnerable people or disadvantaged groups, women, children, youths and people with disabilities – within the local community, and that the ministry was also looking forward to working in close collaboration with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious organisations and community leaders for implementation of projects aimed at addressing gender-based violence.
On her part, the Resident Representative for Mauritius and Seychelles, Amanda Serumaga, said that the UNDP engages itself to sustain its actions in Mauritius. She emphasised that it was important to speed up actions and align resources towards targeted programmes to achieve positive results.
As for the Australian High Commissioner to Mauritius, Jenny Dee, she said, ‘The Australian Government champions the social and economic empowerment of women and tackling gender-based violence is at the cornerstone of its agenda. We aim at securing cooperation and collaboration across the international community to address gender equality issues and break down barriers to women’s empowerment’.
She added that the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the challenges women face across the economic, security health and safety spheres, deploring that gender-based violence multiplied and intensified globally during the lockdown.
Source: Republic of Mauritius
Photo source: UN Women
