VIENTIANE, April 23 (Vientiane Times/ANN): The Japanese government has pledged more than US$830,000 to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to implement the Safer Cities: Interventions against Covid-19 project, which focuses on water, sanitation and hygiene and the protection of communities at risk.
The project aims to improve the lives of about 500 vulnerable women, girls and survivors of violence, and 3,000 Covid-19 affected people in 11 provinces of Laos.
The objectives are to strengthen the capacities of 100 service providers through the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, make physical improvements to protection shelters, quarantine facilities and isolation facility structures, provide gender-responsive support, and improve women-friendly spaces.
The Japanese government and UNFPA partnered with the Lao Women’s Union, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and UN-Habitat to launch the Safer Cities initiative on April 7.
Speaking at the launch, President of the Lao Women’s Union, Dr Inlavanh Keobounphanh, said “This partnership provides support to survivors, women and girls to access law and justice and ensure their safety through protection shelters, including mental health and psychosocial support.”
The Ambassador of Japan to Laos, Kenichi Kobayashi, said “Japan will continue to support Laos in various fields, including the country’s Covid-19 pandemic response and the empowerment of women.”
“Japan does so as a strategic partner of Laos, reiterating our support and strong desire for continued close collaboration with the international community and development partners,” he added.
UNFPA Representative to Laos, Mariam A. Khan, said “This new support from Japan will safeguard the health and lives of thousands of women and girls and vulnerable groups in the years to come.”
The project has two main components: firstly, provision of protection and social services for women and girls, including gender-sensitive safety measures, for quarantine/isolation facilities and protection shelters.
It also aims to set up three new shelters and improve two existing shelters to provide a safe haven for women and girl survivors of violence, and vulnerable women.
Secondly, water, sanitation and hygiene facilities will be installed and physical improvements carried out at quarantine/isolation facilities, community centres, and in at-risk communities.
The project contributes to the implementation of the Essential Services Package on Women and Girls Subjected to Violence.
This is a global guidance tool identifying the essential services by health, social services, police and justice sectors to be provided to all women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence. - Vientiane Times/ANN
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