last updated 11 May 2007

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is the UN agency that advocates for the protection of children's rights. UNICEF emphasizes the special needs of girls, and works to eliminate all forms of violence against children, as well as to ensure all children have an equal opportunity to develop. UNICEF recognizes the important links between the human rights of children and of women, and therefore funds some international projects that focus on women's issues. In 2000, the research arm of UNICEF, the Innocenti Research Center, published a report on Domestic Violence against Women and Girls, which discusses the cause and consequences of the problem as well as the obligations of national governments to eliminate this form of violence. UNICEF has also produced reports on early marriage (2005) and on female genital mutilation (2005). 

United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) is the agency primarily devoted to ending violence against women by promoting the human rights of women and girls. UNIFEM works to strengthen the capacity of national and regional non-governmental women's organizations, to increase women's access to international human rights mechanisms, to bring women's human rights into the mainstream of the UN system and to develop approaches to eliminate violence against women that promote action by governments and inter-governmental agencies. UNIFEM focuses on decreasing feminized poverty, ending violence against women, preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS among women and girls, and achieving gender equality in democratic governance.

UNIFEM also supports the Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women, created in 1996 by the UN General Assembly after the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. The goal of the Trust Fund is to identify and support innovative projects aimed specifically at preventing and eliminating violence against women around the world. Since the creation of the Trust Fund, UNIFEM has provided over $13 million in grants to 226 projects implemented in more than 100 countries worldwide. UNIFEM also uses the Trust Fund as a method to inform the entire UN system, national governments and civil society about strategies for eliminating violence against women. UNIFEM provides comprehensive information on the Trust Fund application procedure, such as the types of activities that are funded, who can apply for funding and general proposal requirements.

United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) helps people worldwide improve their lives by connecting them to “knowledge, experience and resources.”  UNDP currently operates in 166 countries. The program has a special focus on women's empowerment and works to facilitate achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Through its Thematic Trust Fund, UNDP funds programs focused on gender mainstreaming and attaining the MDGs. UNDP promotes gender equality in all of its activities and also through a specific fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) works to protect refugees worldwide and ensure their rights and well-being. The UNHCR seeks to safeguard the right to seek asylum from persecution, while preserving the options of voluntary return, integration, or resettlement in a third country.

The UNHCR has developed several policies and initiatives with regard to refugee women and girls.  The UNHCR Executive Committee has adopted five conclusions that relate to refugee women.  The first conclusion, Refugee Women and International Protection (18 October 1985) recognizes the vulnerability of refugee women and girls and emphasizes the need for governments and the UNHCR to take measures “to guarantee that refugee women and girls are protected from violence or threats to their physical safety or exposure to sexual abuse or harassment;”(para. e). The second conclusion, Refugee Women (10 October 1988), highlighted specific needs, such as information, training modules, and an active, senior-level Steering Committee to coordinate work. The third conclusion, Refugee Women (13 October 1989), restated concerns regarding the physical safety and sexual exploitation of refugee women. The third conclusion also called upon the UNHCR to create a policy framework and plan to mainstream women’s issues throughout its work. The fourth conclusion, Refugee Women and International Protection (5 October 1990), reaffirmed the importance of the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies on the Advancement of Women and urged the development of guidelines on refugee women. It called for increased female participation, both as personnel and in the coordination of refugee programs, and in the prosecution of those who commit violations against refugee women. Finally, the Fifth Conclusion on Women and Girls at Risk addresses their identification and provides recommendations on prevention, as well as immediate, medium- and long-term responses and solutions.

The UNHCR has issued a UNHCR Policy on Refugee Women, which compiles conclusions of the Executive Committee and UN resolutions into a policy framework. The policy addresses gender mainsteaming, organizational goals, policy objectives and operational aims. In 1991, the UNHCR published Guidelines on the Protection of Refugee Women (PDF, 31 pages). The guidelines recognize that women and girl refugees face particular protection problems and have 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). The document provides guidelines on evaluating the protection status of refugee women. It also discusses the physical security problems and legal protection issues that refugee women face, as well as appropriate responses. In addition, the document discusses preventive and follow-up measures, as well as the reporting of protection problems. In 2003, the UNHCR issued guidelines on prevention and response, entitled Sexual and Gender-based Violence against Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (PDF, 168 pages).  The guidelines, which provide background information on sexual and gender-based violence, are intended for use by organizations and bodies that work with refugees and for refugee communities working to address the problem. The guidelines emphasize partnerships and involvement of the refugee community to best address the problem.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is an international development organization that seeks to promote every person’s right to “enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity.” To this end, UNFPA works to advance gender equality and to end violence against women. UNFPA approaches gender-based violence as a both a major health and serious human rights concern. In 2000, the UNFPA State of the World's Population Report (Lives Together, Worlds Apart), addressed Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. Among other program areas, UNFPA also addresses harmful practices, such as FGM and and honor killings, gender and HIV/AIDS, girls and adolescents, women in armed conflict or natural disaster situations, and empowerment of women.

The UNFPA is one of a number of UN bodies that is working to combat trafficking in women and children, through its human trafficking program. UNFPA's planned activities to combat trafficking include the provision of technical assistance to governmental agencies to increase their capacity to develop anti-trafficking measures, provision of services to victims of trafficking , public awareness campaigns, and campaigns directed toward males.