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UNRWA is participating in the different UN taskforces aiming to build national strategies to end violence against women in Lebanon, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). In the latter specifically, UNRWA is addressing gender-based violence through its participation in the Gender Equality - Social, Political and Economic programme. Hide

UNRWA prioritized addressing gender-based violence in 2009 and is developing a systematic multi-sectoral approach to gender-based violence, which includes services provision, prevention, working with community leaders and participation in national advocacy efforts. To increase victims’ access to services, UNRWA is developing referral systems in its fields of operations. In West Bank, a pilot intervention of a community protection referral was developed with the support of the BirZeit University for the referral system in 9 camps (Kalandia, Jalazone, Duheisheh, Aroub, Doura, Aida, Al Azeh, Aqbat Jaber, Ein Sultan). This intervention is based on a concept of community protection 'committees', comprised of UNRWA staff, as well as a number of key community members. The purpose of the committees is to coordinate referrals both internally to UNRWA, as well as to external resources. Hide

In Jordan, UNRWA and UNICEF supported the Ministry of Health in developing guidelines (pilot version) for medical and paramedical staff on addressing violence against women. UNRWA organized a workshop with practitioners from all over the region to develop lessons learned that were documented in the first issue of UNRWA Gender Series on referral systems for victims of violence. Hide

In Gaza, West Bank, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, UNRWA staff attended training in detecting and counselling victims of gender-based violence. The staff included nurses, midwifes, health counsellors, medical officers, education counsellors, lawyers and social workers. In West Bank, and with the support of the Birzeit University, 4 trainings took place to introduce the concepts of community protection. Hide

In Gaza, the Equality in Action programme, supported by UNRWA, continues the discussions that target men and women in the community, as well as religious leaders and UNRWA health staff, to raise awareness of the impact of violence against women. Hide

UNRWA participated in the 16 days of activism campaign against gender violence. In Gaza City, 700 women were invited to an informative talk about gender-based violence. A series of activities were held in UNRWA’s schools and women’s centres throughout the West Bank, including creative workshops, documentary screenings and sessions on the adverse consequences of gender-based violence. UNRWA, along with other UN agencies in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, held a joint event. In Syria, public events were organized in Damascus, Hama and Homs, including testimonies from victims, paintings, lectures and marches. Targeted audiences included youth, women, men, community leaders and religious leaders. Hide

UNRWA carried out a number of activities to build referral systems to improve victims’ access to services. The Lebanon Field Office began the implementation of their referral system in the Tyr Area and the Gaza Field Office drafted a referral system based on the services offered by the different programs. The West Bank Field Office is developing a family protection referral system and held several workshops to discuss principles and standards, also in 4 refugees camps (Dheisheh, Fawwar, Jalazon and Qalandia) in order to establish the referral system. The Syria Field Office is building the capacity of two legal advice offices in Yarmouk and Deraa camps to launch a “hotline” and offer social and legal aid to victims of domestic violence. Hide

UNRWA is strengthening the capacity of its counselors in the health centres, its lawyers in legal advice offices, and its social workers in the women program centres to offer a more targeted intervention to victims in Gaza and West Bank through the Community Mental Health, the MDG-Gender and the Equality in Action programs. Hide

The UNRWA-supported Community Mental Health program in West Bank and Gaza continued psycho-educational workshops and lectures in all camps addressing topics such as sex education, equality between both sexes in the family, violence against women and children. The workshops targeted both women and men (whenever possible). In West Bank there is an ongoing program with 2 groups of male abusers. Hide

UNRWA Gaza and West Bank Field offices continued counseling sessions for victims of gender-based violence through the Community Mental Health program (CMHP). Hide