7 November 2021; Anbar, Iraq - UNFPA Representative to Iraq, Dr Rita Columbia, and the Governor of Anbar, Mr Ali Farhan Al-Dulaimi, signed a Joint Cooperation Framework on Sunday to increase access to services responding to gender-based violence and protecting women and girls in Anbar. 

The agreement will be translated into establishing a women protection centre in Heet district, which will serve the entire governorate. UNFPA will ensure that the centre can provide survivor-centred quality services to women and girls survivors of violence. 

Speaking to the press, Mr Farhan, said: "I thank UNFPA for prioritising women and girls in Anbar. The Governorate will ensure that women and girls have access to services they desperately need. We promise to expand our collaboration with the partners to support women empowerment in Anbar".

For her part, Dr Columbia thanked the Governor for his support to women and girls’ empowerment in Anbar: “This cooperation framework will help to expand services to women and girls in the Governorate and ensure service providers are equipped with survivor-centred approaches that respect human rights.”

The cooperation agreement between UNFPA and the Governorate is within the UNFPA 2020-2024 Country Programme Document and the Memorandum of Understanding between UNFPA & the Government of Iraq, through the Ministry of Planning.

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UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, delivers a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact Salwa Moussa, Communications Specialist, smoussa@unfpa.org  009647809171035