Protection from Gender-based Violence - Libya - United Nations Population Fund 2011

(30 June 2011). A popular uprising against the four-decade long rule of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi began on February 16th 2011. Conflict between pro- and anti- government forces has resulted in instability. Hundreds of thousands of affected people have crossed the borders into neighbouring countries including Egypt and Tunisia. Affected populations both inside and outside of Libya are in need of food water sanitation and medical attention. Gender-based violence (GBV) is a life-threatening protection health and human rights issue that can have a devastating impact on women and children in particular as well as on families and communities. With CIDA support the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) aims to deliver targeted protection interventions and assistance programs to address the immediate life-saving needs of the most vulnerable Libyan and third country national populations in Libya including through ensuring a comprehensive interagency approach to GBV prevention. It is expected that up to 50 000 women and girls in Libya especially in the eastern part of the country who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing gender-based violence benefit from the program. The program also expects to assist in the protection of women stranded at the Egyptian and Tunisian borders as well as in the protection of women in transit camps in Tunisia.