"The United Nations Joint Global Programme on Essential Services for Women and Girls Subject to Violence (the “Programme”), a partnership by UN Women, UNFPA, WHO, UNDP and UNODC, aims to provide greater access to a coordinated set of essential and quality multi-sectoral services for all women and girls who have experienced gender based violence. The Programme identifies the essential services to be provided by the health, social services, police and justice sectors (the “Essential Services”) as well as guidelines for the coordination of Essential Services and the governance of coordination processes and mechanisms (the “Coordination Guidelines”). Service delivery guidelines for the core elements of each essential service have been identified to ensure the delivery of high quality services, particularly for low and middle income countries for women and girls experiencing violence. Taken together, these elements comprise the “Essential Services Package” (p. 7).

The packages are being piloted in ten low- to middle-income countries in Asia-Pacific and other regions. They represent a key tool for countries seeking to meet their international commitments to tackle violence against women and girls, including under the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and women's empowerment.