Combating Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

The Union for the Mediterranean countries have affirmed international and regional obligations and have adopted legal measures combined with national strategies that build a framework for combatting Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and gender stereotypes. As such, the UfM labelled in June 2014 the “Forming responsible citizens” project, promoted by Ideaborn, which aims to contribute to the prevention of violence against girls and women through the implementation of a renewed civic education curriculum in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.

However, women across the region are still subjected to physical, sexual, psychological and economic violence, regardless of their income, age or education. In addition, the regional context of conflict, political transitions and austerity have led to increased VAWG.

On the other hand, traditional gender roles and stereotypes continue to have a strong influence on the division of roles between women and men in the home, in the workplace and in society at large, which exclude women from having access to the same opportunities and support as men.