11 April 2010 - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Afghan Ministry of Women Affairs (MoWA) have signed the Annual Work Plan on Gender as they renewed their commitment to reduce gender-based violence and empower women in Afghanistan.

The Annual Work Plan (AWP) 2010 – consisting of women-empowering projects worth almost half-million US dollars – was signed on Thursday by MoWA Minister Husun Banu Ghazanfar and UNFPA Country Representative for Afghanistan Mr Arie Hoekman at the MoWA Conference Room in Kabul.

AWP 2010 “focuses on elimination of violence against women with emphases on awareness campaigns through religious leaders, capacity building of health service providers and community health workers in psychosocial counselling, and engendering police academy curriculum and training.”

“Providing information to communities on the legal/formal system of justice is another element of this AWP that will be executed through justice institutions on the sub-national levels,” added the UNFPA press release on the event.

AWP 2010 – which will cost US$ 424,202 – “continues to put special emphasis on promoting women's participation in decision-makings pertaining to their household and community issues.” It will be implemented by Afghan government institutions and civil society, with technical and financial assistance from UNFPA.

By Aurora V. Alambra, UNAMA

Website: UNFPA in Afghanistan

Website: Ministry of Women Affairs