Responses and Services

UNFPA has developed a knowledge asset on "Addressing Violence against Women and Girls in Sexual and Reproductive Health Services". The review of the literature in this asset focuses on the integration of violence against women and girls – into sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, aimed at providing guidance to health sector programme designers and managers. This asset is available on the following web-link: http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/6233.

In Gaza, UNRWA is consolidating the services within the legal advice bureaus, while developing 5 ‘one-stop’ centres. In Syria, interventions have been consolidated in the ‘legal advice bureaus’ (LABs) in two areas (Yarmouk and Deraa) to add social interventions and counselling to the existing legal aid. A hotline service for victims was launched in May 2010. In Jordan, a national referral system exists and UNRWA is developing the capacities of the LABs to act as liaison mechanisms with the national structures (Family Protection Unit and Jordanian National Women Commission).

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.

UNIFEM, now part of UN Women, contributed to improved policies and service delivery for women survivors of violence, through its work with National Women’s Machineries, including in Ghana, Liberia and Peru; increased access to legal assistance in Ethiopia, Fiji and the Occupied Palestinian territory (oPt); and strengthened police response in Nigeria. UNIFEM deployed teams in post-earthquake settlements in Haiti to provide referrals for survivors of violence.

With the support of UNDP Kosovo, five Legal Aid offices, became fully operational in Gjakove, Dragash, Ferizai, North Mitrovica, and Gracanica, providing legal aid services to residents.

In Albania, UNDP supported the establishment of a community centre in Durrës to assist victims of domestic violence which provides free legal services, and a telephone hotline. A new programme entitled “Economic Empowerment of Women Victims of Domestic Violence” was launched in FYR Macedonia in March 2010. Under this programme, UNDP will assist victims by providing opportunities for self-employment and training for skills in demand in the job market.

The OHCHR/Human Rights and Transitional Justice Section in the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste monitored the response of the formal justice system to reported cases of violence against women, including whether traditional justice mechanisms are given priority in such cases. In March 2010, through participation in working groups, the OHCHR also provided a human rights and protection commentary on draft governmental policy related to emergency shelters and safe houses for survivors of violence against women.

In a meeting held by WHO in March 2009 the implementation and evaluation of health sector interventions was reviewed and an outline for guidance to the health sector, with a focus on resource poor settings, was developed.

Action-oriented research on successful intervention modalities for Nigerian minor victims of trafficking was carried out by UNICRI in various Italian regions. Current modalities of services and assistance towards minor victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation were evaluated in several Italian regions in order to develop successful interventions.

WFP has been actively involved in joint UN initiatives to deliver services to victims of gender-based violence. WFP provides food assistance for medical rehabilitation of victims and, through income-generating activities, supports the victims/survivors to become economically independent.