United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

UNRWA, working with local NGOs and community-based structures and organizations, in addition to UN agencies at the field level, engages men, women, as well as youth and children in the awareness-raising activities through discussion groups and support groups. UNRWA employs art, theatre and photography as a way of reaching out to the community and creating space for self-expression and support through different activities. During 2015, UNRWA was able to reach out to more than 30,000 community members including men, women, and youth to raise awareness on priority issues related to GBV according to field contexts, such as child marriage and domestic violence. Awareness-raising sessions and events also serve to increase community knowledge on available services.

UNRWA has developed context-specific GBV prevention initiatives in all its five fields of operation (Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank), building on local partnerships and working with community structures. These initiatives have focused on developing effective approaches to tackle root causes of GBV, addressing power imbalances and gender inequality and engaging communities in the effort to combat GBV. Progress has also been made in involving men and boys in awareness-raising activities and key services, such as involving men in preconception care and family planning counselling in UNRWA health centres.