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How UNHCR Helps Women
UNHCR works to promote the empowerment of women and the elimination of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) as part of its Age, Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming (AGDM) strategy. The aim of this strategy is to ensure the meaningful participation of all people of concern in UNHCR's planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Within UNHCR activities, women are given particular attention because of the risks they face. UNHCR supports equality as a basic human right and recognizes the key role that women play in safeguarding their societies, and as agents of change able to overcome hazardous situations. The High Commissioner's Five Commitments to Refugee Women guide UNHCR in this regard. In recent years, UNHCR has developed special programmes to ensure women have equal access to protection, aid and services.
UNHCR undertakes targeted action to help victims of SGBV, including psychosocial, medical, legal/judicial and security assistance. It also conducts preventive activities such as awareness raising, safe learning initiatives, sports and cultural activities, and the provision of alternative fuel to reduce the risks to refugee women and girls when out collecting firewood. UNHCR is also promoting the support of men and boys in combatting SGBV as well as systems to improve data collection and analysis.