Sexual and Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response In Refugee Situations in the Middle East and North Africa

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is facing humanitarian crises and forced displacement on an unprecedented scale. These conflicts and the resulting displacement disproportionately burden women and children, who now comprise 78 per cent of Syrian refugees. Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is becoming increasingly widespread in these conflict-affected countries, and is often one of the causes of flight. 

In support for multi-sectorial and coordinated SGBV prevention and response, this report outlines strategies, in line with international standards, that UNHCR uses in coordination with national authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other partners across the region, to bring tangible results in preventing and responding to SGBV in refugee situations, as well as in the inter-agency response in situations of internal displacement.