Shamsaha, the Middle East’s first and only domestic and sexual violence crisis programme, is expanding beyond its Bahrain base, both digitally and physically, to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and Oman, thanks to a financial commitment from cosmetics giant L’Oreal.
In 2020, Shamsaha dealt with more than 1,000 interactions on its helpline. With its growing reach, it’s predicted that the organisation will be able to support 4,000 women in the GCC by the end of 2022.
Giving women a voice
“Through our partnership, we aim to support Shamsaha’s mission to break the silence around domestic violence in the region, help women stand for themselves by providing direct support, and give them a voice so they can realise their full potential socially and economically,” L’Oreal Middle East managing director Remi Chadapaux tells The National.
Shamsaha founder and executive director Mary-Justine Todd says the grant will allow the organisation to replicate the success they’ve already had. “From the beginning, the vision was to use Bahrain as the starting point to grow a model for the rest of the region - now the GCC, and, inshallah, one day all the Middle East.”
The undisclosed sum of money is coming out of the L’Oreal Fund for Women, a three-year, €50 million ($59m) charitable endowment, which the French beauty brand established in order to help alleviate the difficulties brought disproportionately to women around the world by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Shamsaha plans to roll out its digital and physical presence in the four new territories over the course of two years. A mobile app is also under development and will be launched for Android and iOS after the summer.
“It should be like a one-stop shop, both for the victims and our volunteers,” Todd explains. “The plan is to use the app as a vehicle for expansion and awareness, and then we will roll out the physical presence in each country.”
Prevalence rates of violence against women are not substantially different from region to region. About one in three women in the world have been subjected to physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes, according to the World Health Organisation.
Shamsaha was the first, and continues to be the only, full-scale domestic and sexual violence crisis response programme in the Middle East
Mary-Justine Todd,
Shamsaha founder and executive director
"There are millions and millions of women in this region who will experience abuse at some point in their lives,” says Todd. “When it does happen, we will be there, ready with services for support.”
Shamsaha, meaning “her sun” in Arabic, was founded in 2016 under the name Women’s Crisis Care International. It is a non-profit corporation that operates entirely on donations from individuals and institutions, with a commendable 80 per cent of funds going directly towards programmes.
“Shamsaha was the first, and continues to be the only, full-scale domestic and sexual violence crisis response programme in the Middle East,” says Todd. "There are other good organisations, like counselling centres and shelters, but the way that crisis advocacy operates is unique and offers a special care for victims.”
A mission in crisis advocacy
Shamsaha's mission is to protect, advocate and empower women. Its work is organised around three clear mandates: providing 24/7 crisis care, carrying out case work, and improving community education and awareness.
Crisis advocacy is the first and largest of the three mandates, and it begins when a victim calls or texts the free helpline. Although there are dedicated numbers for Arabic and English, Shamsaha representatives speak a total of 20 languages. Currently, there are more than 100 certified women’s crisis advocates who ensure that informational, emotional and logistical support is available around the clock.
More often than not, once a client’s immediate crisis needs are met, they will also need support in the medium and longer term.
“The women who come to us have different situations and different backgrounds, and each case has a different set of goals that we need to achieve,” says casework manager Fatima Al Haddad.
Shamsaha offers whatever help it can to meet its client’s needs, including legal assistance, therapy and medical attention. Generally, cases are resolved within six months, but the support can extend as long as necessary.
A ‘shadow pandemic’
This growing regional solution coincides with a growing international problem, exacerbated by the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic. UN Women describes it as a ‘shadow pandemic’ of intimate partner violence against women and girls. There have been reports of a five-fold increase in calls to helplines in some countries.
“Women and children are often the first to suffer, whether it's a man-made crisis, natural disaster, or economic crisis,” says Todd. “That is well-established. But I think there are also unique characteristics of a pandemic situation that have resulted in the increase of violence against women.”
The reasons for this are twofold, she says. Firstly, with people isolated in their homes for long periods, there’s simply more opportunity for violence to occur or reoccur. Secondly, increased stress factors and mental health issues can lead to increased levels of violent behaviour among men.
The economic cost of violence
Even before the pandemic hit, it was proven that violence against women creates significant economic costs. UN Women puts the figure at $1.5 trillion annually, roughly the size of the Canadian economy.
Measuring the impact of something as horrific and pernicious as domestic violence in monetary terms may seem crass, but it’s not feasible to quantify moral imperatives. Todd explains: “There are basically four categories of costs: the first is direct tangible costs, and this includes things like the taxi fare that someone has to pay to get to the hospital; secondly, there’re indirect tangible costs, like reduced productivity at work, or lost earnings and profits resulting from missed workdays; thirdly, economists can calculate direct intangible costs, such as the value placed on pain and suffering, or the emotional loss that someone will feel from a violent death; and finally, indirect intangible costs represent things like the ongoing negative psychological effects that witnessing abuse might have on a child.
“When you add up these costs and consider the number of the women in the world, their average lifespan, and then factor in the knowledge that about a third of them will experience violence at some point, you get these astronomically high numbers.”
Volunteer and outreach co-ordinator Eman AlBahrani says the WHO defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
“Abuse and violence of all types and intensities is detrimental to health. If you remind people in crisis that they’re capable and deserving of finding a better life and realising their dreams, then that’s really all the change that you need to make in the world to improve quality of life, to improve family cohesion, to develop communities. The impact is almost immediate.”
How to help someone in need
Just as there are tangible and intangible costs arising from violence against women, there are tangible and intangible ways that people can confront the scourge.
One of the main things we teach our volunteers is to never, ever give advice
Mary-Justine Todd
Todd says that while symptoms of abuse can present physically, such as wearing heavy clothes in hot weather to potentially cover up bruises, it’s important to remember that most forms of abuse are not visible. “You might see someone emotionally shutting down, or notice some sort of change in their personality,” she says. “You might find that someone is isolating themselves by avoiding gatherings and never being available.
“One of the main things we teach our volunteers is to never, ever give advice. Nobody listens to advice, we do what we want to do, when we’re ready to do it. The way we help a woman get ready to make a change in her life is by being there for her, being her friend, and trying to plant a seed of confidence and support.
“She needs the confidence that she can make her own decisions, and if you tell her what to do you’re taking away her decision-making authority, which further disempowers her - it’s just what the perpetrators of abuse do. She needs to feel the inner strength.”
How to volunteer at Shamsaha
Providing crisis services for every woman who needs them, every minute of every day, involves a lot of people involved. Naturally, the number of volunteers required is set to grow in tandem with the expansion of services.
Currently, Shamsaha runs three 40-hour volunteer training courses per year. Due to pandemic restrictions, recent sessions have moved online, although it is hoped there will be a return to in-person training in the near future.
Volunteers are expected to cover a minimum of two 12-hour shifts per month for at least six months from the completion of their training. There is no prior experience or education required.
“The training covers every aspect of how to become an advocate, and we don’t throw our volunteers into the deep end. We equip them with everything that they need to then be able to to support other women. So if that is a fear, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered,” says regional expansion project leader Noor Toorani.
Empathy and empowerment
AlBahrani, who has a background in public health, first joined Shamsaha in 2018 and has since risen to the level of volunteer and outreach co-ordinator. Shahnaz Farooqi, meanwhile, a law graduate studying to become a human rights lawyer, only completed her training in January.
“People tell me the person I was six months ago versus now is drastically different, and I think that can be attributed to volunteering as an advocate,” says Farooqi. “For me, there’s something so empowering about empowering other women. It’s surreal that just giving a bit of support can allow a person to live the life they deserve. You feel like you’re doing your part in society.
We have to change a culture of acceptance of the patriarch
Mary-Justine Todd
“That feeling of empathy has shifted my perception of what Shamsaha does, and ultimately of the strength of women. Empathy has been used as a way to weaken women, viewed like a weak trait that we have, but I found that empathising strengthens you to empower the person right then and there, and that really is the reason why I keep doing shifts.”
Todd agrees. “We have to change a culture of acceptance of the patriarch. We have to change a culture of acceptance of making violence against women sexy. Women’s bodies are used to sell things. They’re used to sell perfume, they’re used to sell handbags, they’re used to sell TV shows, and if we stop accepting that and refuse to buy into these products and brands, and this culture of acceptance with impunity for men, eventually you can have a global shift in thinking.
“We’re not going to change the world tomorrow, but you have to start somewhere.”
Free crisis care is available 24/7 by calling or messaging 00973 3844 7588 for English and 00973 6671 0901 for Arabic. More information is available at www.shamsaha.org
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
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Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
French Touch
Carla Bruni
(Verve)
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Automatic
Power: 530bhp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh535,000
On sale: Now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Results
UAE beat Nigeria by five wickets
Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey
7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-cylinder%202.0L%20TSI%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20clutch%207-speed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320HP%20%2F%20235kW%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20400Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20%2449%2C709%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
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MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 3
Gayle (23'), Perez (59', 63')
Chelsea 0
Not Dark Yet
Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer
Four stars
The years Ramadan fell in May
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
More on animal trafficking
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Avatar%3A%20The%20Way%20of%20Water
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Day 2, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dinesh Chandimal has inherited a challenging job, after being made Sri Lanka’s Test captain. He responded in perfect fashion, with an easy-natured century against Pakistan. He brought up three figures with a majestic cover drive, which he just stood and admired.
Stat of the day – 33 It took 33 balls for Dilruwan Perera to get off the mark. His time on zero was eventful enough. The Sri Lankan No 7 was given out LBW twice, but managed to have both decisions overturned on review. The TV replays showed both times that he had inside edged the ball onto his pad.
The verdict In the two previous times these two sides have met in Abu Dhabi, the Tests have been drawn. The docile nature of proceedings so far makes that the likely outcome again this time, but both sides will be harbouring thoughts that they can force their way into a winning position.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Case For Trump
By Victor Davis Hanson
Zayed Sustainability Prize
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Borussia Dortmund v Paderborn (11.30pm)
Saturday
Bayer Leverkusen v SC Freiburg (6.30pm)
Werder Bremen v Schalke (6.30pm)
Union Berlin v Borussia Monchengladbach (6.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldof v Bayern Munich (6.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Cologne (9.30pm)
Sunday
Augsburg v Hertha Berlin (6.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Mainz (9pm)
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Monster Hunter: World
Capcom
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Europa League group stage draw
Group A: Villarreal, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Astana, Slavia Prague.
Group B: Dynamo Kiev, Young Boys, Partizan Belgrade, Skenderbeu.
Group C: Sporting Braga, Ludogorets, Hoffenheim, Istanbul Basaksehir.
Group D: AC Milan, Austria Vienna , Rijeka, AEK Athens.
Group E: Lyon, Everton, Atalanta, Apollon Limassol.
Group F: FC Copenhagen, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sheriff Tiraspol, FC Zlin.
Group G: Vitoria Plzen, Steaua Bucarest, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, FC Lugano.
Group H: Arsenal, BATE Borisov, Cologne, Red Star Belgrade.
Group I: Salzburg, Marseille, Vitoria Guimaraes, Konyaspor.
Group J: Athletic Bilbao, Hertha Berlin, Zorya Luhansk, Ostersund.
Group K: Lazio, Nice, Zulte Waregem, Vitesse Arnhem.
Group L: Zenit St Petersburg, Real Sociedad, Rosenborg, Vardar
Scores in brief:
- New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
- William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
- Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
- Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
More coverage from the Future Forum
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Company%20profile
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
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Rating: 3/5
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