Based on the directions of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and in implementation of the National Strategic Plan for Women, as well as in line with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, the Department of Women’s Affairs , in collaboration with the Continuious Education Center, organized a scientific seminar titled “Women’s Mental Health Amid Violence: Impacts and Challenges.”

The seminar was presented by Dr. Amani Saleh Zanaad, who discussed the concept of violence and its various dimensions. She explained that violence has three main levels, including harm and intolerance, while also reviewing the direct and indirect causes of this phenomenon.

The lecturer highlighted the factors that affect the severity and duration of psychological and physical symptoms in abused women and girls. She also examined the most prominent personality disorders associated with violent behavior, in addition to other disorders that impact behavior patterns and relationships.

In terms of solutions, the seminar emphasized the importance of adopting comprehensive preventive strategies by enhancing community prevention, launching awareness campaigns, promoting a culture of respect for women, and integrating educational curricula that combat violence in educational institutions. It also stressed the necessity of early intervention by establishing listening and support centers, referring individuals to psychological specialists, and providing legal accompaniment and initial psychological support.

The seminar concluded by underscoring the importance of listening and providing psychological support without making premature judgments, thereby fostering an atmosphere of trust and psychological and social support.

As part of the activities of the 16-day campaign to combat violence against women, the Women’s Affairs Division, in cooperation with the Center for Continuing Education at the University of Information Technology and Communications, organized an awareness seminar entitled “Sports and its Role in Reducing Violent Behaviors Towards Women”, presented by the teacher in the Student Activities Unit at the College of Business Informatics, T.A. Nour Shamsi, in the presence of the head of the Women’s Affairs Division at the university, Dr. Asmaa Abdel Hussein.

The seminar focused on the importance of sports activities and their role in enhancing women’s mental and physical health, in addition to their contribution to reducing aggressive behaviors and reducing stress. The lecture also addressed various types of violence, including physical, psychological, verbal, and economic violence, in addition to digital violence, harassment, and extortion.

The lecturer explained that exercising contributes to reducing violent behaviors and enhances survivor’s ability to recover from trauma, by supporting mental health, alleviating post-traumatic stress disorder, and increasing feelings of inner peace.

The seminar also pointed to a number of challenges that obstruct the role of sports in combating violence against women, most notably the lack of family awareness of the importance of sports activities for women. The seminar came out with several recommendations to enhance the role of sports within universities, the most important of which are integrating the topic of sports and reducing violence into curricula and lectures, forming women’s sports teams, organizing media campaigns that link sports to respect for women, and providing designated places for practicing sports on campus.