Measures

UNRWA is participating in the different UN taskforces aiming to build national strategies to end violence against women in Lebanon, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). In the latter specifically, UNRWA is addressing gender-based violence through its participation in the Gender Equality - Social, Political and Economic programme. Hide

In Gaza, West Bank, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, UNRWA staff attended training in detecting and counselling victims of gender-based violence. The staff included nurses, midwifes, health counsellors, medical officers, education counsellors, lawyers and social workers. In West Bank, and with the support of the Birzeit University, 4 trainings took place to introduce the concepts of community protection. Hide

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. Hide

UNHCR has prepared an e-learning tool on gender-based violence, which will be made available to all UNHCR staff and partners. Hide

During its Standing Committee in June, UNHCR introduced the outline of its strategy for the next five years to address sexual and gender-based violence. Hide

UNHCR continues work through the newly established Stabilization and Recovery (STAREC) funding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. UNHCR received support for its consolidated program in South Kivu and Ituri provinces in the east. The main activities will be developing standard sensitization tools, training of military personnel and National Police, bolstering the capacity of community networks and targeted groups to better prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence, and facilitation of the establishment of community networks and mediation committees. Hide

UNHCR and the U.S.Center for Disease Control (CDC) continue to work together on a population based survey on the magnitude of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and the barriers to protection and other services among refugee populations. A feasibility mission was carried out in one refugee settlement and one urban site in Uganda. Hide

Members of UNHCR’s Executive Committee prepared a draft Conclusion on the rights and protection needs of refugees with disabilities, which included the need to prevent and respond to violence against women refugees with disabilities. Hide

UNHCR, UNICEF and UNFPA are currently implementing a Capacity Development Project on gender-based violence, funded by ECHO, which focuses on Nepal, Afghanistan and Pakistan. UNICEF focuses on Ivory Coast, CAR and Chad, and UNFPA focuses on Sudan, Occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and Iraq. The objective is to train 63 capacity promoters, who will bolster the capacity of 360 international and national staff in the coordination of gender-based violence programming in these nine countries Hide

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. In Yemen, safe accommodation is rented rather than having a specific safe house, in order not to isolate an SGBV survivor from the community. In Ecuador, UNHCR set up livelihoods programmes for SGBV survivors, including access to micro-credit. Survivors are also given access to legal assistance. Hide