10 December 2009 - The first ever UNAMID-supported Women’s Centre in West Darfur was officially dedicated yesterday in ceremony in Ardamatta IDP camp, about 15 kilometres northeast of El Geneina. The Ardamatta Women’s Centre was funded by a UNAMID Quick Impact Project (QIP), and developed by the Community Development Association (CDA), a national NGO, whose founder, Safaa Elagib Adam, is this year’s Freedom and Human Rights Foundation laureate.

The Centre is intended to provide support to survivors of domestic and sexual violence and to act as a forum for women to share their experiences and enhance their capacity in addressing their own concerns. It will also provide vocational and training illiteracy programmes.

The inauguration was attended by acting Head of Office and Team Leader of the Human Rights Section, Mr. Christian Mikala. He stated that UNAMID's support for the facility was attributable to the belief that it would contribute to overall efforts to resolve women’s issues, which were of the utmost importance to the peace process in the region. The guest of honour, State Minister of Social Affairs, Mr. Hashim Osman Hashim, commended the support rendered to the Centre by UNAMID and pledged to lend his assistance the project.

Mr. Mikala concluded by appealing to the women of Ardamata to take advantage of the Centre and to make the best use of its services for the peace, security, progress and development of women and society as a whole in Ardamata and surrounding areas.