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Terms of Reference

Production of a video depicting how a web-based learning module will strengthen health-sector response to gender-based violence (Ref: MDV-ToR/2015/14)

 

Background

UNFPA began the work of generating the evidence to table gender based violence at the policy agenda since 2004.  A report on the findings of qualitative research on gender-based violence carried out by the Ministry of Gender, Family Development and Social Security[1] prompted the then Ministry of Gender to undertake the first ever research on Women’s Health and life experience[2], that established a prevalence rate for violence against women in Maldives. Efforts made to develop legislation on gender based violence under the Fourth Country Programme (2008-2010) resulted in drafting a Domestic Violence Bill in 2010. The Fifth Country Programme (2011-2015) continued to convene multiple stakeholders including the government, political parties, civil society, media, and gender activists who played a critical role in the passage of the law at a time of political turbulence. The law was passed by the Majlis in April

2012 and the Family Protection Authority, the body mandated by the law to oversee the implementation, was formed in September 2012. UNFPA has been instrumental throughout the process.

UNFPA continued to support the government to establish systems and capacity to plan and monitor the roll out of the important piece of legislation including establishing the health sector response to gender based violence. Since the Maldives continue to face a high staff turnover, and a high reliance on foreign professionals to provide the health services, UNFPA supported the Ministry of Health to develop a web based learning module to be integrated in the recruitment process to be undertaken by the new recruits within the first three months of service. The module is also integrated in the Faculty of Health Services in the courses on nursing, community health worker training and counselling training. UNFPA can lobby with the Government to use the same model to orient the health cadre on new developments and inservice training in future.