UN Action’s Impact
Lebanon is a host country to displaced persons across the region. UN Action has therefore been working there, especially with internally displaced persons and refugees who are also survivors of or at-risk to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). UN Action has implemented three projects in Lebanon, primarily focusing on preventing further harm from happening to survivors of CRSV by addressing stigma, ensuring access to holistic services, and host community engagement.
Photos from our Activities
In-Country Operational Support
UN Action’s latest project “Equipping Gender-Based Violence Response Services to Meet the Needs of Women and Girls within the COVID-19 Outbreak”, implemented by UNFPA between June 2021 and July 2022, played a critical role in strengthening CRSV prevention and response services in Lebanon during a period of heightened vulnerability.
As part of UN Action’s broader MENA programme, the initiative supported the adaptation of existing CRSV services to evolving human security challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. With UN Action’s strategic guidance, the project enhanced the quality, accessibility, and continuity of life-saving psychosocial and health services for survivors of CRSV and women and girls at risk, while also building the capacity of frontline service providers.
Interventions were delivered through Women and Girls’ Safe Spaces and mobile teams, enabling outreach to remote and underserved areas in Akkar, North Lebanon, an area hosting a high concentration of Syrian refugees. Survivors and at-risk women accessed a comprehensive package of core services, including case management, psychosocial support, empowerment and life-skills activities, and facilitated emotional support groups. These safe spaces provided a trusted and protective environment in which survivors could seek specialized care.
UN Action’s contribution was also instrumental in addressing stigma and strengthening institutional responses. Awareness-raising activities were conducted both among service users and within host and refugee communities to promote understanding of CRSV and encourage help-seeking behaviour. In parallel, UN Action supported the Ministry of Public Health in operationalizing the 2021 Clinical Management of Rape strategy, including the selection of service delivery facilities and the training of health personnel to respond effectively to survivors’ needs.
The project delivered tangible results: 150 women and girls received case management and psychosocial support; 1,155 individuals participated in CRSV awareness-raising sessions; 48 health care providers were trained on the clinical management of rape; and 150 beneficiaries received emergency or recurrent cash assistance to cover shelter needs and facilitate access to legal and health services. Overall, UN Action was pivotal in reinforcing survivor-centred services, reducing barriers to care, and strengthening protection and resilience for women and girls affected by CRSV in Lebanon.
