The Guidelines on the Protection of Refugee Women (PDF, 31 pages) were prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner on Refugees in 1991. The Guidelines recognize that women and girl refugees face particular protection problems. These include basic protection needs, such as “protection against forced return to their countries of origin; security against armed attacks and other forms of violence; protection from unjustified and unduly prolonged detention; a legal status that accords adequate social and economic rights; and access to such basic items as food, shelter, clothing and medical care” (Part I, ¶ 2). In addition, the Guidelines acknowledge that refugee women and girls need protection from gender-based violence and discrimination. The Guidelines are presented in five sections. The first section provides an overview of the situation; the second part presents guidelines on evaluating the protection status of refugee women; the third part suggests physical security problems and legal protection problems that refugee women face, as well as appropriate responses; the fourth part describes preventive measures to improve protection for refugee women, and; the fifth part presents follow-up measures and reporting of protection problems.