Final evaluation: Life Without Violence: women and girls have increased access to justice and EVAW services (State of Palestine)

Palestinian Counseling Center (PCC), with the support of UN Trust Fund, implemented in 2019 to 2022 the three-year project “Life without violence: women and girls have increased access to justice and EVAW services”to empower women and girls’ survivors of violence in East Jerusalem and Area C to combat gender-based violence and make them safer in their communities. The project aimed to achieve this through six areas of intervention: 

• capacity-building for community-based organizations;
• women’s empowerment and skill-building;
• advocacy for legal reform;
• establishing community-based protection mechanisms;
• referral of survivors between civil society and national institutions; and
• awareness raising among youth at risk to prevent gender-based violence.

The final evaluation found the project achieved its objectives with minor adjustments needed in the face of obstacles and emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Main findings of the evaluation:

• Nearly 80% of women and girls who participated in the project activities said they were confident that they could protect themselves from gender-based violence.
• Some youth clubs were established exclusively for females, given the conservative nature of the local society that restricts mixed-gender youth activities. 
• PCC responded and adapted quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions implemented by the government.
• The referral system for community-based organizations in Jerusalem and Area C became operational. 
• The project positively influenced the lives of the targeted groups, with the impact on women far more effective than on youth.