On September 24, Safe YOU organized a roundtable discussion where they presented the latest developments and new tools of their app.
The event was attended by representatives from the UN Population Fund in Armenia, the Armenian Police, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the Human Rights Defender’s Office, the Ministry of Justice, as well as representatives from various NGOs and individual consultants.
“We are not only presenting the recent changes and updates made to the app, but also the work our team has accomplished and the new milestones we have reached over the past year. This June, we launched operations in Romania, and shortly after, in the U.S. state of New Mexico, both of which were significant milestones for us,” stated Milena Hayrapetyan, Head of Communications at Safe YOU.
Among the most important updates are the deepening cooperation with the Police and the creation of a domestic violence case registration system, the introduction of the new “Open Survey” feature, the “Follow-up” feedback system, a new security system, and the app’s new design.
Edgar Petrosyan, Colonel and Head of the Professional Methodological Support Department of the Community Police Directorate at the RA Ministry of Internal Affairs, noted that they have been working with the Safe YOU team on the launch of the new system for more than a year:
“The collaboration involves not only the use of the app by the Police for response purposes, meaning it can be used by victims of domestic violence, but also through Safe YOU, our databases are being digitized. This allows us to make decisions for urgent interventions.
Previously, if there had been no recorded violence and it was the first time, the police officer might take softer measures without immediately available updated information. However, with the digitized database via Safe YOU, the officer can instantly know who they are dealing with and whether there have been any previous incidents involving the individual. This provides a more comprehensive understanding. From a security perspective, specially selected police officers will have access to the data, which will be available through special codes.”
Ani Jilozian, Director of Development at the Women’s Support Center, praised the collaboration with Safe YOU and encouraged the use of the modern digital solution:
“We have been working with Safe YOU for many years now. From the beginning, we have provided reports and information to be included in the app. We’ve had many discussions to ensure that the practical work we do with our beneficiaries is reflected in the app. Gradually, we are receiving more and more messages directly through the app. We realize that this solution is very timely, and over time, it will expand further, with more women using the app. We also recommend our beneficiaries download and use it on their smartphones.”
Lilit Shakhulyan, Safe YOU’s Chief Operating Officer, presented the new “Open Survey” feature, as well as the technological and security updates.
“The Open Survey platform allows access to targeted audiences. Now, through a special platform, it is possible to create surveys and receive responses to questions of interest. For example, we recently conducted a survey among women from Artsakh to assess their needs and organize more targeted assistance. It was very important for us to collect the most accurate data possible,” noted Lilit Shakhulyan.
For the fourth consecutive year, Safe YOU has been recognized as a “Digital Public Good,” certified under the initiative of the UN Secretary-General. This once again confirms that this digital solution complies with digital and security developments and is aligned with the fifth Sustainable Development Goal of the UN.
“We deal with very sensitive and important personal data. We collaborate with the Humanize cybersecurity platform and subject our platform to 24/7 monitoring, identifying vulnerabilities to which our technical team responds by providing security solutions. Two-factor authentication has been implemented,” said Lilit Shakhulyan.
The new features and security updates were implemented within the framework of the “Women’s Initiative for Security and Equality” (WISE) program, carried out by the international organization Mercy Corps Georgia with funding from the U.S. State Department.
In addition to the new functions, the UI/UX design of the app has been updated, making it more accessible and user-friendly.
“The main functionality remains the same, but we now have a more modern and emotionally engaging color scheme that resonates more with women. We have also simplified the registration process. We chose dark purple, pink, dark blue, and wine colors, which convey both femininity and deep feelings, while blue reflects the technological solution aspect,” noted Milena Hayrapetyan.
During the meeting, all stakeholders engaged in an interactive discussion, outlining steps for further cooperation and development.
Nune Grigoryan
Photos By Agape Grigoryan
17:52 | 30.09.24 |
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