The Essential Services Package is a guidance tool identifying the essential services to be provided to all women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence, including services that should be provided by the health, social services, police and justice sectors. This package also provides guidelines for the coordination of these services.
Module 4 covers standards and guidelines for the social services sector. Module 1 offers an introduction to the Package, as well as foundational elements and information on how to use this tool. Modules 2 and 3 cover the health and justice and policing sectors, while Modules 4 and 5 cover social services and coordination and governance. Modules 1 through 5 were published in 2015.
A sixth module, covering implementation, was produced in 2017. All materials can be found on the Essential Services Package page.
The Essential Services Package was created by the United Nations Joint Global Programme on Essential Services for Women and Girls Subject to Violence, which was launched by UNFPA and UN Women in December 2013, with support and funding from the Government of Spain and the Australian Government. The participating UN agencies include: UNFPA, UN WOMEN, WHO, UNDP and UNODC.