52 Gender and Security Toolkit The project also builds the capacity of the Directorate for Violence against Women through mentoring, observation and training. Training has been provided for directorate staff, NGO partners and members of the Independent Board of Human Rights on GBV, conflict-related sexual violence, human rights, legal aid, case tracking, reporting, documentation and investigations. Standard operating procedures have been established where there were previously none. The project has ensured that females are substantially represented in the staff of structures delivering assistance to GBV survivors; today the majority of staff in the directorate and the engaged NGOs are women.1 Impact Ê Access to justice for survivors of GBV, including conflict-related sexual violence. Between 1 January 2017 and 31 March 2018 the legal aid centres served 13,147 IDPs and refugees (10,668 women and 2,479 men). The mobile team was particularly effective in reaching those unable to travel or who lacked the financial resources to access justice otherwise. Training and mentoring provided through the project have resulted in the Directorate for Violence against Women addressing GBV cases more effectively and sensitively. Ê Awareness-raising. Awareness-raising activities have helped to break down taboos concerning GBV, conflict-related sexual violence and related issues. The project itself has also raised the political importance of the topic of conflict-related sexual violence, resulting in a joint communiqué between the government of Iraq and the United Nations in December 2006 on the need to address conflict-related sexual violence and support victims. Ê Collaboration between government and civil society. The project not only increased access to justice and helped build the capacity of national actors providing assistance to GBV survivors, but also provided a platform for the Directorate for Violence against Women to work with NGOs. By promoting collaborative efforts it has maximized the assistance provided by both the directorate and the NGOs for those in need, and ensured that support for survivors can be sustained beyond the lifetime of the project. Image: © UNDP Iraq/ Martins/2016.