This Handbook describes some of the protection challenges faced bywomen and girls of concern to the Office of the United Nations HighCommissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and outlines various strategies weshould adopt with our partners to tackle these challenges. It sets out the legal standards and principles that guide our work to protectwomen and girls and outlines the different roles and responsibilities ofStates and other actors. UNHCR’s own responsibilities in this respect areexplained, both as part of its mandate to secure international protection anddurable solutions and as a United Nations (UN) agency. Suggestions for actions by UNHCR and partners to support women’s andgirls’ enjoyment of their rights are also included. Examples of innovativepractices from the field illustrate how these principles can be applied.