COVID-19 and Essential Services Provision for Survivors of Violence Against Women and Girls

This brief highlights emerging trends and implications for the provision of essential services (health, police and justice, social services and coordination of these services) for women and girls who have experienced violence during the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. It provides actions taken at the regional, national and local levels, in partnership with Governments, civil society organizations and UN entities. These include promising practices from the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative and pilot and self-starter countries participating in the UN Joint Global Programme on Essential Services for Women and Girls Subject to Violence and rollout of its main guidance, the Essential Services Package. It draws upon the knowledge and experience of a wide range of stakeholders who are supporting solutions to end intimate partner violence and other forms of violence against women and girls, accounting for the individual country context in which the crisis is occurring. It makes recommendations to be considered by different partners, including key line ministries, civil society organizations and international organizations, who are seeking to improve the quality of and access to coordinated and multi-sectoral services for all women and girls, including those who are most marginalized and at increased risk of experiencing violence.