Jul 2007

A technical cooperation project, established by ILO, to address trafficking in human beings covering Albania, Moldova and the Ukraine provides social, economic and psychological support to victims of trafficking. IOM has one global assistance project targeting all developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and over 120 counter-trafficking projects targeting over 100 countries in Africa, Asia, Central, Eastern and Western Europe, and Latin America.

In Northern Uganda, WFP works in particular with formerly abducted girls, providing support for counselling and facilitating their reintegration in the community of origin. In Côte D’Ivoire, WFP supports young girls raped by military groups and children born out of rape.

WHO’s guidelines for medico-legal care for victims of sexual violence have been pilot-tested in Jordan, Nicaragua and the Philippines.

UNESCO created a digital library in Kazakhstan. There is also an online legal service which answers questions related to domestic violence, marriage and family, gender policy issues, and maternity.

In Kenya, UNFPA advocates for and provides counselling services for rescued girls who escaped from FGM/C or forced marriages to help them to return home without risking their health and well-being. UNFPA is working jointly with UNICEF on the prevention and treatment of sexual and gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).UNFPA promotes availability of services to victims of violence, including counselling for affected groups such as young people, pregnant women, the displaced and refugees.

UNHCR collaborates with health partners, to ensure that survivors of violence have proper access to services, including access to post-exposure prophylaxis and emergency contraception. Such collaboration with UNFPA and other partners includes training on clinical management of rape survivors for health professionals.

UNDP supports the provision of free legal service, counselling, mediation and rehabilitation, as well as micro-enterprise activities.

UNHCR operational activities include establishing and maintaining drop-in centres to facilitate access to health and psychosocial service providers, safe shelters, and legal justice for survivors.

UNRWA supports women’s programme centres in all refugee communities, where awareness-raising, support sessions on gender-based violence, and often legal advice, are provided to women. Women’s programme centres have kindergartens, where possible abuse of children and women occurring in the home can be detected and counselling and advice are provided in such cases. Violence against women and children is also addressed through theatre and role playing.

UNODC’s global project aims to build non-governmental support structures for victims of violent crime, including victims of trafficking in persons. UNODC’s technical assistance projects at the national level have supported One-Stop Centres for victims of domestic violence, particularly for women and children, in South Africa, where all government services (social development, justice, police, correctional services, education) and community-based organizations’ services are provided to victims/survivors in a coordinated and mutually reinforcing manner.