AWSAD successfully launched its sixth safe house in the city of Hawassa on December 14th, 2019. This largest safe house in the country which is set up with financial support from UN Women, has the capacity to serve 70 women and girl survivors of violence coming from the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia. Like other AWSAD safe houses, the Hawassa safe house provides comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration services including psychological counselling, skills training and legal follow-up. The safe house also has a Court Practice Room which helps survivors with an ongoing legal case to be confident after practicing what happens at a real court with the staff first.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, HE Melkamu Worku, Deputy Mayor of Hawassa, on behalf of the regional government promised to provide AWSAD a plot of land to build a safe house for rehabilitation of survivors. Mrs. Maria Munir, Executive Directress of AWSAD thanked the Hawassa City Administration and the SNNP regional government for their unconditional support in the opening of the safe house.
The inauguration was attended by invited guests from UN Women, Hawassa government representatives, Women Affairs representatives, board members and staff of AWSAD.