20 \ outline of protection initiatives Prevention of and support to victims of gender based violence The incidence of gender based violence and other forms of exploitation have been identified as a protection priority within the Palestine refugee community in Syria. UNRWA has therefore assessed what support refugees would need to increase their protection through prevention and the provision of care to those who have been abused. In response to the identified needs, UNRWA is providing: • • • Free legal and social advice counselling on GBV through a telephone hotline; Mental health services in health clinics for women that have suffered from GBV; Training to staff on detection and referral of persons subject to GBV. This initiative contributes to HDG 1 A long and healthy life and HDG 4 Human rights enjoyed to the fullest extent possible. More specifically to strategic objectives 2 and 12: • • Protect and promote family health; Ensure service delivery meets the protection needs of beneficiaries, including vulnerable groups. Cash Assistance UNRWA operates several cash assistance projects across Syria, using a social safety-net approach to address the needs of poor and vulnerable Palestine refugees. This Social Safety Net assistance is provided to families and individuals in distress (special hardship cases) and abject poor (those unable to meet basic food needs) who are suffering from rising costs of living and food prices. Households headed by unemployed women, elderly people and internally displaced refugee families are prioritised. Cash transfers help protect access to healthcare and education (including clothing and school supplies), providing children with a healthy diet, buying essential household items or servicing rent and utility costs. Provision of cash assistance to the poorest households mitigates the impact of the ongoing crisis on the most vulnerable Palestine refugees in Syria, particularly those living below the abject poverty line and female headed households. Beyond meeting essential needs, it is intended to empower refugee communities to act as the primary agents of their own recovery. It also provides UNRWA with the ability to respond flexibly to emerging needs and enables refugees to determine and meet a range of essential priorities. Actual assistance varies based on household poverty assessments and the humanitarian and security situations in the surrounding area. This initiative contributes to HDG3: A decent standard of living. More specifically to strategic objective 8: • Mitigate the effects of emergencies. Psychosocial Support and Referrals Although implemented by other field offices, the provision of psycho-social support is a relatively new field for UNRWA in Syria, delivered in response to the emerging needs of the Palestine refugee community affected by recent unrest. The response, due to be rolled out in 2012, will be managed on the basis of a detailed needs assessment and followed by psycho-social support services through school counselling, health service delivery, CBO activities, support to victims of gender-based violence and social worker services; all delivered through UNRWA facilities and referral systems. A framework for the programme will be designed in consultation with external psycho-social and behavioural experts, before engaging in staff training and roll-out of the new services. The programme comprises five primary elements: 1) Formulation of psycho-social programme framework for UNRWA Syria Field Office, in consultation with external experts. 2) Development and production of training materials for UNRWA staff delivering psychosocial services, including health workers, teachers, social workers and management. 3) Training of trainers for UNRWA staff involved in psychosocial programming 4) Delivery of psycho-social support and family counselling to refugee women and victims of gender-based violence. 5) Delivery of psycho-social support to Palestine refugee patients psycho-somatic and posttraumatic conditions. This initiative contributes to HDG 1 A long and healthy life and HDG 4 Human rights enjoyed to the fullest extent possible. More specifically to strategic objectives 2 and 12: • • Protect and promote family health; Ensure service delivery meets the protection needs of beneficiaries, including vulnerable groups.