Protection, Support and Services for Victims/Survivors

UNHCR office in India and in cooperation with the government, in response to one of the recommendations from the Dialogues with refugee replaced paper refugee certificates with smart ID cards, resulting in enhanced protection and access to services. In refugee camps where UNHCR has SGBV programs, UNHCR and its partners ensured that 95% of known survivors received support services; in urban areas the support reached 87% of survivors. Hide

In October 2011, in collaboration with Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) and the Togolese Ministry of Women Affairs, the ECA organized a Regional Stakeholders’ Meeting in Togo on “Women’s Access to Legal and Judicial Services”, which focused on access to justice for women victims of violence including in conflict settings, and on the need for a multisectoral response to victims through the provision of legal, medical and psychosocial support services. Hide

As part of its strategic leadership role, the UNAIDS Secretariat has gathered evidence to better address gender barriers that hinder women’s access to services, including violence. Hide

Advocacy and assistance by former UNIFEM now part of UN Women contributed to: improved policies and service delivery for women survivors of violence in Kazakhstan, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Haiti, Pakistan; increased access to legal assistance in Algeria, Kenya, Morocco, FYR Macedonia, Colombia, Argentina and Thailand; and economic empowerment initiatives for women survivors of violence in Morocco and Georgia. Additionally, in the context of the International Conference on the Role of Security Organs in Ending violence against women and girls in the framework of the UNiTE to End Violence Campaign, 12 African countries adopted the Kigali Declaration on the Role of Security Organs, reaffirming their commitments for action to continue building on best practice to expand justice and services for survivors in the continent. Hide

In December 2010, UNDP and UN Women organized a workshop in Kampala, attended by several experts on transitional justice issues and reparation, focusing also on gender, with the objective to initiate a more integrated UN approach to reparations. Hide

The OHCHR supported the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences in participating in the 2010 General Assembly, including convening a side event on reparations for women who have been subjected to violence. Hide

In November 2010, the United Nations launched the "United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children" that has been established by General Assembly resolution on the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. The Fund will be administered by UNODC, as the designated Fund Manager. Hide

WHO Guidelines for the health sector response to intimate partner and sexual violence are under development, with a final draft of the Guidelines being available at the end of 2011. Hide

The FAO regional project “Eastern Africa regional response to food insecurity, HIV and GBV” supports victims/survivors of gender-based violence to rebuild their livelihoods, improve their technical and practical knowledge in farming leading to increased self esteem and their reintegration in their communities and households (see http://www.disasterriskreduction.net). Hide

UNRWA continues its collaboration with UNICEF in Jordan to address violence in schools against girls and boys and to establish mechanisms in the health centres to address child abuse. During 2010 UNRWA focused on building referral systems. In Syria, UNRWA has identified its mechanism of referral in Yarmouk and Deraa camps, and worked to enhance staff capacities for detection of gender-based violence victims. In West Bank, UNRWA has collaborated with various stakeholders to develop its referral system, based on a community participation approach, and to organise trainings for medical staff. In Gaza, UNRWA is establishing one-stop shop centres, and has identified the role of staff involved in the process. In Jordan, UNRWA has been working with local partners towards the establishment of a referral system, and has commenced the mapping of external partners to provide support services to victims of gender-based violence. Hide