OVERVIEW
Since 2012, UNFPA (the United Nations Population Fund) in Lebanon has been an active member of the Syria humanitarian response and coordination mechanisms, always guided by its core mandate on promoting access to Reproductive Health (RH) services and information and preventing/responding to Gender Based Violence (GBV). In times of crisis, UNFPA keeps serving the most vulnerable, in particular women and young girls. Based on the specific needs identified in the field through continuous generation of evidence, UNFPA has provided a variety of services targeting both Syrian refugees and Lebanese in hosting communities.
Specifically and in RH, the main priorities supported by UNFPA consisted of capacity development of medical and paramedical staff on quality services, procurement and distribution of needed medical equipment, supplies, drugs and contraception to hospitals and primary health care centers, as well as awareness-raising of the affected population on various issues namely family planning, sexually transmitted infections, safe motherhood, among other.
On the other hand, the GBV prevention and response programme supported by UNFPA focused on delivering services to survivors of violence including legal representation, psycho-social support and basic livelihood skills, through shelter, safe spaces and listening and counseling centers among others. In addition, developing capacity of partners and service providers on GBV was supported at national level complemented with women empowerment initiatives using innovative approaches. While engaging men and boys was initiated in 2015 in the fight against GBV, focus on preventing child marriage was also addressed. Dignity kits were continuously provided to women and young girls throughout all the activities.
Under the youth programme, UNFPA supported several activities aiming at providing Syrian and Lebanese young people with the knowhow, tools, and spaces to engage in cultural expression for promoting participation, cooperation, tolerance and acceptance.
UNFPA leads the RH Sub-Working Group, the Inter Agency Youth Task Force, and the Task Force on Clinical Management of Rape survivors and co-leads the SGBV Task Force.