UN Women Deputy Executive Director visits Azraq refugee camp, meets with Government officials, Syrian refugee women and women leaders.
Date:
Azraq Refugee Camp, Jordan. Ms. Anita Bhatia, Assistant UN Secretary-General for Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships and Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, visited the Azraq refugee camp during her first official visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. On this occasion. Ms. Bhatia had the chance to interact with Syrian refugee women, to learn about the comprehensive services provided by UN Women through its Oasis centers. Ms. Bhatia also gained a firsthand overview of the partnership between UN Women and the World Food Programme aimed at leveraging innovation and technology to empower Syrian refugee women through the use of blockchain technology for cash disbursement.
‘As UN Women, we are grateful to the Government of Jordan for continuing to provide a secure environment for all refugees. I was impressed by the stories of resilience and empowerment of the women I met today. With the support of our partners, we are proud to stand by women affected by humanitarian crises’ affirmed Ms. Bhatia.
UN Women currently operates four ‘Oasis Centers for Women and Girls’ in the Za’atari and Azraq refugee camps, building women’s resilience and empowerment through the provision of incentive-based volunteer programmes and livelihoods training, services for those at risk of and surviving gender-based violence, and civic engagement and education opportunities. Each Oasis also provides childcare services and engages with men and boys in the community on gender equality and women’s empowerment issues. In 2019, UN Women also launched eight Oasis centers in Jordan’s host communities in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development. Through the twelve Oases in both camp and non-camp settings UN Women and MOSD reach more than 6,000 Syrian refugee and vulnerable Jordanian women, and 50,000 members of the targeted communities.
‘Our colleagues here on the ground work tirelessly to support vulnerable women to access the skills and knowledge they need to fulfill their aspirations; to participate in decisions in the household and have the support of their families; and to engage in their communities as leaders.’
Earlier today, Ms. Bhatia met with H.E. Ms. Basma Ishaqat, Minister of Social Development, to discuss joint efforts in empowering the most vulnerable women in Jordan through the Social Protection Strategy and by rolling out the Oasis model country-wide. Ms. Bhatia also met with Dr. Salma Nims, Secretary General of the Jordanian National Commission for Women, as well as other women leaders, reconfirming UN Women’s support to the government’s gender equality mechanism and civil society organizations on joint women’s empowerment priorities for the country.
For all media inquiries, please contact:
Susan Al Hilo
Youth and Advocacy Specialist
Tel. 0790919680 susan.alhilo@unwomen.org