Mar 2010 - Sept 2010

UNHCR will expand the use of the Gender-Based Violence Information Management System (GBVIMS) to improve safe data collection, analysis and information, in coordination with International Rescue Committee and UNFPA. The countries where the system will be introduced are: Yemen, DRC, Liberia and Colombia. The system is already in place in a number of countries, including Kenya, Uganda and Sudan.

The ECLAC Gender Observatory of Gender Equality of Latin America and the Carribean recollected and analysed national legislation on violence against women.

DAW, now part of UN Women, continued to update the Secretary-General’s database on violence against women. During the ECOSOC High-level segment that took place from 28 June to 2 July 2010, DAW organized a parallel exhibition featuring the Secretary-General’s database on violence against women.

In 2010, UNHCR and partners referred 83% of those who reported sexual and gender-based violence cases in camps for assistance. In urban settings, this was the case for 97% of reported cases. UNHCR operations put in place a number of innovative approaches to preventing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and providing comprehensive support for survivors. For example, in Burundi, it was agreed to use the hospital as a safe haven for SGBV survivors, avoiding the stigmatization that often results from having a specific shelter.

WHO is developing Guidelines for the health sector response to intimate partner and sexual violence.

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.