Your support provides protection for vulnerable women and girls

Women and girls are among those most at risk of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) as a result of conflict and displacement. They are vulnerable at every stage of their journey: during conflict, during flight and in their place of refuge.

UNHCR supports displaced women and girls through programmes such as a referral system for SGBV survivors so they can receive medical treatment; psychosocial services and legal support; public education and awareness programs; and livelihood projects and skills training.

Our donations in action

Sister Angélique at her bakery in Dungu

In the remote Congolese town of Dungu, Orientale Province, Sister Angélique Namaika has established a Maison de la Femme

to provide refuge and livelihood support for marginalised women and girls, many of whom have been victims of Lord’s Resistance Army sexual violence and exploitation. The refuge includes a hospital, a school and an orphanage. Her women’s projects in Dungu include a UNHCR-funded bakery, a collective farm, sewing workshops and literacy classes. (© Australia for UNHCR)

Young women from Central African Republic in a Congolese refugee camp

Australia for UNHCR is funding programs in five Congolese refugee camps to prevent sexual violence and provide rape survivors with immediate treatment and ongoing support.

These camps are home to more than 62,000 refugees who have fled the fighting in Central African Republic (CAR). Many women and girls have been raped in their homeland and remain at high risk of sexual assault as refugees in a country known as ‘the rape capital of the world’. (© UNHCR/ S. Rich)

Our fundraising promise

82% Humanitarian programs

Source: Australia for UNHCR's Statement of Comprehensive income 2015

Young actors perform a play about sexual and gender-based violence at a Congolese school in Masisi, DRC

UNHCR runs public education programmes in the DRC designed to reach a large audience, raise awareness, and change attitudes to violence against women.

These include multi-media campaigns and activities involving travelling theatre groups, cinema, radio shows and men’s discussion groups. (© UNHCR/ B. Sokol)

Women by a sexual health awareness board in Kalinga camp, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Australia for UNHCR provides major support for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) survivors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Clinics provide medical care and listening houses, such as this one in Kalinga camp, giving SGBV survivors a safe place to talk about their experiences and seek help and advice. UNHCR also trains refugee women to be volunteer counsellors with ‘big ears, big hearts and small mouths’. (© UNHCR/ B. Sokol)

Get the facts about our impact

A young woman enters her shelter in Uganda
Protection Protection Protection
Livelihoods Livelihoods Livelihoods
Safe Places Safe Places Safe Places
Medicine Medicine Medicine
Counselling Counselling Counselling

Providing Protection

People fleeing war, disaster or persecution can be very vulnerable. UNHCR supplies displaced people with essential items, food and shelter to protect them from having to make dangerous decisions to survive. On a larger scale, UNHCR negotiates safe passage, asylum spaces and humanitarian access, upholding the rights of refugees and minimising the threat of violence, including sexual assault.

Providing Livelihoods

The opportunity to work and earn a living is one of the most effective ways for displaced people to rebuild their dignity. UNHCR supports livelihood programs to foster skills development and self-sufficiency among refugee populations. These programs also allow refugees to contribute to their host economy, creating strong social ties with the community.

Providing Safe Places

UNHCR operates safe spaces for the most vulnerable refugees. Children travelling alone are given special support and safe accommodation while UNHCR staff search for their relatives or carers. Throughout Europe, UNHCR works with UNICEF to operate ‘blue dot’ hubs for child and family support, providing child services, play areas and counselling. For displaced girls, safe spaces in refugee camps are essential for preventing abuse and exploitation. LGBTI refugees are also offered safe spaces to protect them from harm and discrimination.

Providing Medication

UNHCR facilitates access to basic healthcare for refugees through camp clinics and local healthcare providers. Priority health services include emergency medical care for those who have suffered violence, reproductive services and treatment for infants and the elderly. UNHCR also coordinates immunisation programs to prevent the spread of diseases in crowded refugee settings.

Providing Counselling

Displacement due to armed conflict, persecution, or disaster puts significant psychological and social stress on individuals, families and communities. UNHCR provides counselling to refugee populations to address trauma arising from displacement. These services are particularly vital for survivors of torture and of sexual and gender-based violence.

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 Privacy Policy

Australia for UNHCR (ABN 35 092 843 322) respects the importance of privacy and security of your personal information. This privacy policy sets out the way we collect, hold, use and disclose your personal information and underpins our commitment to protecting your right to privacy. This policy reflects Australia for UNHCR’s obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (including the National Privacy Principles) (the Privacy Act). Australia for UNHCR embraces the National Privacy Principles and is committed to safeguarding your personal data. As members of the following bodies, we adhere to additional codes of conduct and ethical fundraising practices:

  • Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), complying with its Code of Conduct;
  • Australian Direct Marketing Association (ADMA), complying with its Codes of Practice; and
  • Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA), adhering to its ethical practises for fundraising.

We may revise this Privacy Policy or any part of it from time to time. You will find the most current version on our website or obtain a copy from our Donor Care Team; contact details are included at the bottom of this policy.

Collection of Personal Information

Australia for UNHCR follows the Australian Privacy Principles in handling personal information; we collect personal information about individuals including supporters, employees, contractors, volunteers, special representatives/delegates and job applicants. This information is collected directly from you, in person, by phone or email, on hard copy donation forms or via our website. We may also collect your personal information from publically available sources or third parties.
 

Use of Personal Data

The information we collect and hold generally includes contact details (name, address, email), personal details including date of birth, and credit card or bank accounts details.
We use the personal information you provide us with for the purpose for which it was provided to us, other related purposes or as permitted or required by law. Generally we collect and use your personal information for:

  • processing donations;
  • completing financial transactions, including issuing receipts;
  • maintaining accurate details of our donors’ history;
  • communicating with you via mail, email or phone;
  • responding to your questions, comments or other requests; or
  • offering you employment.

We also use your information in our marketing and fundraising activities, keeping you informed of our latest news, campaigns and appeals or about campaigns and appeals which may be of interest to you, and offer you the opportunity to subscribe to them. We may also offer you the opportunity to participate in surveys carried out by Australia for UNHCR or its agents.

Direct Marketing

We use your personal details to assist in the cost-effective development of our marketing and fundraising activities by sending you information by post, email or telephone. As we have a large number of supporters, at times we use external providers to assist with our telemarketing and mailing. We will take reasonable steps to ensure that our contracts with third parties include requirements for third parties to comply with the Use and Disclosure requirements of the Privacy Act.

We will endeavour to provide you with an opportunity to opt out of receiving such communications. By signing our pledge documents, you consent to having your personal information stored. If you do not opt out by ticking the box, we will send you our direct marketing materials. We make every effort to ensure that our opt-out notices are clear and easy to follow.

If you do not wish to receive future communications from Australia for UNHCR or have any questions about privacy please contact our Donor Care Team; contact details are included at the bottom of this policy.

Disclosure and Sharing of Personal Data

We occasionally invite other like-minded and trusted organisations in Australia to contact you with information that may be of interest. This allows Australia for UNHCR to increase its base of supporters and reach more people with our vital message.

Any personal contact information you provide to us may be disclosed, if appropriate, to third parties who provide services on our behalf. We may also disclose your personal information to our volunteers who assist with many of our tasks.

Strict confidentiality agreements are in place with our service providers and external agencies, and with staff and volunteers who handle your personal information. We will only disclose your personal information for the purposes for which it was initially collected, other directly related purposes or purposes to which you otherwise consent.

Other than as stated above, we will we not share your personal information. However, it is possible, though unlikely, that we might be forced to disclose personal information in response to legal processes or when we believe in good faith that the law requires it, for example, in response to a court order, subpoena or a law enforcement agency's request.

If you do not wish Australia for UNHCR to share your personal information with like-minded and trusted organisations in Australia, you may opt out by ticking the appropriate box on the donation or pledge form or contact our Donor Care team, with contact details at the bottom of this policy. If you have any questions about privacy please contact our Donor Care Team (see contact details at the bottom of this policy).

Access and Correction of Personal Data

Australia for UNHCR will correct its records containing Personal Information as soon as practically possible at the request of the individual concerned in accordance with the Privacy Act. We take reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information that we collect and hold is accurate, complete and up-to-date. However, we rely on you to advise us of any changes to your personal information to help us maintain accurate, complete and up-to-date information.

We will, on request, provide you with access to the personal information we hold about you unless otherwise required or permitted by law. We will notify you of the basis for any denial of access to your personal information.

Individuals wishing to lodge a request to access and/or correct their Personal Information should do so by contacting our Donor Care Team; contact details are included at the bottom of this document.

Quality of Personal Information

Australia for UNHCR will review, on a regular and ongoing basis, its collection and storage practices to ascertain how improvements to accuracy can be achieved. We may utilise the services of third parties in order to maintain accurate personal information. Where such disclosure is made, we take reasonable steps to require these organisations comply with the National Privacy Principles.

Storage and Security of Information

We strive to protect your personal information, that it is protected from misuse, loss, interference and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. For example, whenever we ask for your financial details online, we use security-encrypted response forms.

No data transmission over the internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, while we strive to protect your personal information, Australia for UNHCR cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us over the internet, and you do so at your own risk. Once we receive your transmission, we make our best effort to try and ensure its security both on our systems and while in transit between our systems and the companies who provide us with various services. If you do not wish to make your financial contribution online, please contact us to receive a hard copy form; contact details are included at the bottom of this policy.

Making a Privacy Complaint

If you wish to make a complaint about a breach of this privacy policy or the privacy principles of the Privacy Act 1988 you can contact us using the contact details at the bottom of this policy. You will need to provide us with sufficient details regarding your complaint as well as any supporting evidence and/or information.

We will refer your complaint to our Privacy Officer who will investigate the issue and determine the steps that we will undertake to resolve your complaint. We will contact you if we require any additional information from you and will notify you in writing of the outcome of the investigation. If you are not satisfied with our determination, you can contact us to discuss your concerns. If your complaint is about the way we handle your personal information, you may also contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner by calling 1300 363 992, online at www.oaic.gov.au or writing to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001.


Online Activity and Privacy

Cookies
When you visit our website our server tracks non-personal statistical information about your experience on the site, such as pages viewed and donation details. The Australia for UNHCR website uses cookies and tracking technology to enhance your experience and deliver content relevant to your behaviour. This enables us to gather information such as the number of website visits and how you interact with our website. We use this information to help us understand more about how our site is used, so we can continually improve your experience.

We also use cookies for tracking the statistics of our website, which allows us to better understand your visit and improve the layout and functionality of our website. This analysis is conducted in such a way to ensure the anonymity of visitors while the information can help us customise the online experience for visitor to our site. No personally identifiable information is obtained. Information is gathered at an aggregate level and may be shared with third parties to help us analyse website usage and deliver marketing material.

You have the ability to accept or decline cookies by modifying the settings in your browser. If you do not wish to receive any cookies you may set your browser to either prompt or refuse cookies.

Third party cookies
Australia for UNHCR sometimes embeds photos and video content from websites such as YouTube. Pages with this embedded content may present cookies from these websites. Similarly, when you use one of the share buttons on our website, a cookie may be set by the service you have chosen to share content through. We do not control the dissemination of these cookies; you should check the relevant third party website for more information about these.

In addition, if you linked to our websites from a third party website, we cannot be responsible for the privacy policies and practices of the owners or operators of that site. We recommend you check the policy of the third party site and contact its owner or operator if you have any concerns or questions.

Web browser cookies
If you don’t want to receive cookies, you can modify your browser so that it notifies you when cookies are sent to it or you can refuse cookies altogether. You can also delete cookies that have already been set.

If you wish to restrict or block web browser cookies which are set on your device you can do this through your browser settings; the Help function within your browser should tell you how. Alternatively, you may wish to visit www.aboutcookies.org which contains comprehensive information on how to do this on a wide variety of desktop browsers.

Social Media
Our website and mobile site may contain links to online forums. Think carefully before you post or publish any Personal Information in these forums as it will be publicly available.
Secure Online transactions

If you make a donation via our website, we process your credit/debit card details securely using an accredited internet payment security system. With the combination of SSL encryption on our website and a secure browser at your end, we take all reasonable measures to ensure that your credit/debit card and personal information are protected when you donate online. We also recommend that you take appropriate security precautions when accessing the internet via public Wi-Fi networks or shared computers.

Contact Us

You will find the most current version of our Privacy Policy on our website at privacy-policy.
If you have any questions about your privacy, wish to access or change your details, how to lodge a complaint regarding the handling of your information and how that complaint will be handled by Australia for UNHCR, please contact our

Donor Care Team:

  • by phone on 1300 361 288 (within Australia) or +61 (0)2 9262 5377 (overseas);
  • mail us at Australia for UNHCR Level 8, 120 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000
  • via email on info@unrefugees.org.au; or
  • fax on 02 9262 4345.