Measures

UNRWA Lebanon field office developed their field intervention on violence against women in a workshop the 14th of July 2009. A referral system was drafted coordinating services for women victims of violence. Hide

On International Women’s Day, UNRWA Lebanon Field Office organized, in collaboration with a Lebanese NGO “KAFA”, awareness-raising sessions on “Women and men united to end violence against women and girls”. UNRWA’s Women Program Centers organized sessions on the use of the CEDAW Convention and Human Rights tools in advocacy. 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 revised the technical guidelines for the health department in April 2009, including the detection, counseling and referral of women victims of violence.A workshop for UNRWA health gender focal points on lessons learned in detecting women victims of violence in health centers was held in Damascus, in July 2009. The need for an internal and external referral system in partnership with host country stakeholders was highlighted. 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

In Ethiopia and Djibouti, HIV/AIDS vulnerability assessments by UNHCR were conducted for high risk groups in refugee camps. The assessments substantiated that survival sex takes place in the refugee camps. The recommendations included immediate protection measures for children who have been sexually exploited and abused, as well as setting up peer led systems, HIV/AIDS and health education to targeted groups. Hide

In Liberia, UNHCR and its partners supported the establishment of a new community health department and organized community health committees and volunteers. The volunteers participated in awareness-raising sessions on primary health care, reproductive health, sexual and gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS. Strong coordination on sexual and gender-based violence is also on-going between UN agencies, the government and NGOs, and response mechanisms to sexual and gender-based violence are being put in place and strengthened. Hide

During reproductive health and HIV field missions to MENA and West African countries, UNHCR health staff advocated with stakeholders for the strengthening of sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response and for the integration of reproductive health, including sexual and gender-based violence, into community-based outreach activities and awareness-raising campaigns.In Liberia, UNHCR and its partners supported the establishment of a new community health department and organized community health committees and volunteers. The volunteers participated in awareness-raising sessions on primary health care, reproductive health, sexual and gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS. Hide

In September 2009, UNHCR conducted workshops to promote the engagement of men and boys in the prevention of SGBV in the East and Horn of Africa. The participants of the workshop developed country level action plans for 2010 and contributed to a collection of good practices.In September 2009, UNHCR undertook a pilot training in Uganda on the e-learning Guide on Safe Schools and Learning Environment to build the capacity of UNHCR staff and partners to prevent and respond to violence, including SGBV, in and around schools. Hide

In Syria, UNHCR and the Syrian Women Union are supporting a new centre for Iraqi refugee women at risk, particularly female teenagers who are involved in commercial sex work. Hide