WOMEN'S rights supporters are seeking the backing of the public and private sectors to help them form a national framework to assist abuse victims.
The US-based Vital Voices Global Partnership is working with local shelters and organisations that support abuse victims, to co-ordinate their activities and create a national framework for combating domestic violence.
The next step is to gather support from the public and private sectors, said Business Care president Sadiq Jaffer, who represents the local organisers of the initiative.
"Our main aim is to create a coalition to support women who are victims of domestic violence and try to co-ordinate all the activities of the societies and those such as lawyers who take on cases voluntarily," he told the GDN.
"In Bahrain, there is not enough co-ordination or organisations to help women.
"There is no professional national framework on this subject, so people are just working on individual initiative - the government makes shelters and organisations arrange activities.
"A national framework should be set up and be shared by the government, private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Mr Jaffer said there were many women who needed help but at the moment they didn't know where to turn for help.
"Cases take ages in the court and women suffer a lot and they don't know if in the end it will be to their benefit," he said.
"We are trying to initiate a national committee or council to co-ordinate all the activities, whether training or taking care of the women who have problems, or creating awareness for the victims and the society."
"We need the private sector to support the framework and the work of societies, because the government doesn't have the budget."
A meeting to discuss how to increase co-operation between stakeholders and set up a national framework will be held at the Bahrain Women's Union in A'ali, on Saturday, from 5pm to 7pm.
NGOs, the public and private sectors are invited to attend.
In October last year, Vital Voices held a two-day workshop to teach participants how to configure a framework to help them handle, solve and reduce domestic violence in Bahrain.
The training consisted of increasing partnership between organisations that are providing help and protection to women victims and helping them to practically execute collaborative strategies.
The partners evaluated on-going systems and policies, discussed how to develop an action plan, recruit and manage volunteers and safety and security rules and measures.
A three-day follow-up meeting will be held next month to discuss the plans partners have made to further work in combating domestic violence.
The group, which includes NGOs and private and public sector representatives, will discuss how to create a national framework on combating domestic violence and how to recruit and train volunteers.
Those interested in co-ordinating efforts to help victims of abuse or would like to support the creation of a framework should contact 17795785.
Vital Voices' combating domestic violence initiative is sponsored by Middle East Partnership Initiative and co-ordinated by Business Care and Smart Coaching.
becky@gdn.com.bh
