MSDF Concludes “16 Days of Activism” Campaign to Combat Violence Against Women

Doha, December 10 (QNA) - The Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF) Wednesday concluded its "16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women" campaign, aimed at raising community awareness about combating violence and protecting women in various settings, amid broad participation from numerous national entities.

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) organized a seminar on women in the digital age: between empowerment and cyber violence, in cooperation with the Qatar Lawyers Association and other community organizations.

Qatar University (QU) organized a discussion session for female students and an art exhibition, in addition to setting booths dedicated to productive projects in cooperation with the Family Empowerment Department in support of the campaign's theme.

For its part, the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) delivered an awareness workshop on protecting women from digital violence in cooperation with the Al Mujadilah: Center and Mosque for Women. Moreover, NCSA organized an awareness booth in cooperation with the Protection and Social Rehabilitation Center (Aman Center), in addition to participating in the awareness portal at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) by holding a digital safety exhibit and distributing educational materials.

The MSDF, in cooperation with the Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), launched a podcast episode for the campaign. The Ministry also shared awareness messages on social media and published an information card on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), along with service-providing entities.

In the same context, the MOEHE illuminated its buildings in orange and displayed awareness messages on its screens.

For its part, Aman Center, in cooperation with the Workers' Support and Insurance Fund, offered awareness workshops.

The Department of Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), organized a roundtable to exchange best international and regional practices to end violence against women.

The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, in cooperation with the MSDF, delivered a Friday sermon in several mosques across the country on the imperative of treating women well.

The Qatar Social Work Foundation and its affiliated centers participated in the campaign through various awareness efforts aimed at enhancing protection and raising societal awareness. All of the foundation's centers and buildings were illuminated in orange, with extensive coverage carried out across social media platforms as part of a unified message supporting the campaign's objectives.

The Behavioral Healthcare Center launched an awareness campaign on social media that included posts and an infographic, along with issuing an electronic awareness brochure.

The Social Development Center (NAMA) held an awareness event on enhancing social balance and discussed ways to support working women.

Aman Center set an awareness booth in the Women's Wellness and Research Center's Emergency Department at Hamad General Hospital.

The Family Consulting Center (Wifaq) conducted sessions, lectures, and awareness workshops in schools.

Al Nour Center for the Blind delivered an awareness course in partnership with the NHRC on creating a safe environment from digital violence.

Assistant Director of the MSDF's Family Development Department Nouf Ibrahim Al Abdullah said that the campaign was implemented in collaboration with governmental and non-governmental entities, reflecting a national role in protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls.

She praised the importance of this collaboration to enhance a culture of protection and prevention, reinforce justice and dignity, and empower women in society.

Al Abdullah emphasized that investing in women and supporting their role in society and protecting them from all forms of abuse is an investment in the family and in national development.

She also noted that empowering and protecting women in real life and cyber space, is not the responsibility of a single entity, but rather a shared national and societal commitment that requires the cooperation of all institutions and collective action. (QNA)