A/HRC/38/3 E/CN.6/2018/9 continuing to support victims identified in previous years. During 2017, over 110 different assistance interventions were provided to Astra clients, including assisting 30 people at risk of becoming victims of trafficking and supporting them during recovery. Almost all beneficiaries stated that the biggest change they experienced in terms of Astra work is that feel much safer because they know they are not alone and they get support when they need it the most. Astra also organized training for social welfare centres; 24 professionals from 12 centres participated in an accredited two day training course entitled “Support to victims of human trafficking in the social protection system — identification, assessment and planning of the support”. Most of the participants did not have any previous knowledge about human trafficking. In the period after the training, Astra consultants established 48 contacts with social welfare centres regarding potential victims of human trafficking. 17. A project implemented in Brazil by Casa da Mulher Trabalhadora sought to raise awareness among marginalized groups of young women in Rio de Janeiro on identifying violence, including technology-related violence, and how to address it. Three months after the training, which took place in March and April 201 7, 94.4 per cent of young women who had participated had carried out some form of activity in their locality. The most common activities were participating in a workshop, either with other women or in mixed groups (55.6 per cent); distributing materials on women’s rights (50 per cent); and conversations with family or friends on the issue (83.3 per cent). Through its “multiplication” approach, the project managed to reach 2,969 women and girls in schools and in public places. Evaluations from 76 participants found that 86 per cent felt the activity had increased their understanding of violence against women and 56 per cent were interested in taking further action. B. Responding to humanitarian crises 18. In its twentieth funding cycle, the trust fund awarded $2.5 million through a newly established funding window to five organizations working to prevent and end violence against refugee and internally displaced women and girls. The two grantees operating under the humanitarian window in Jordan delayed t he start dates of their projects, pending relevant approvals. Meanwhile, 2 of the 3 grantees working in Iraq, the Free Yezidi Foundation and ASUDA for Combating Violence against Women, reported challenges brought about by conflict in the region. Despite ch allenges in keeping staff in the increasingly unstable project area and the movement of local beneficiaries to safer areas, the projects did make headway prior to the conflict. 19. During the first six months of the project, the Free Yezidi Foundation oper ating in Duhok enrolled 288 women and girls in their trauma and mental health therapy sessions. It is estimated that another 800 community members have been reached by the project through social media outreach. The project has also trained three volunteers as paraprofessional psychological first aid workers, with a view to ensuring sustainability beyond the trust fund-supported project. Women participants reported that they used the skills and insights they had gained to help their relatives at home who have so far been unable to attend the sessions. 20. During the same period, the implementation of a second project began in Sulaymaniyah, Dahuk and Erbil, in which six female researchers were hired and trained by ASUDA for Combating Violence against Women in collecting evidence and monitoring sexual and gender-based violence experienced by female Syrian refugees. This phase was followed by consultations with camp administrators, service providers and local authorities on strengthening response mechanisms for Syrian 6/16 17-22602