WHO Launches Sexual Violence Toolkit
"WHO strongly condemns violence against women and girls and supports partners and countries' efforts towards the denormalization of this type of violence. Ensuring equality between women and men is a crucial part of these efforts," said WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan.
The World Health Organization on Nov. 25 launched a new toolkit to help countries prevent sexual violence against women and girls, with the organization saying joins partners in calling for the elimination of all forms of violence against them ensure their health, well-being, and human rights. Globally, one-third of all women experience physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner or someone else in their lifetime. Women who experience partner violence are twice as likely to suffer from depression and 1.5 times more likely to have a sexually transmitted infection than those who have never been exposed to such violence.
"WHO strongly condemns violence against women and girls and supports partners and countries' efforts towards the denormalization of this type of violence. Ensuring equality between women and men is a crucial part of these efforts," said WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan.
WHO launched the 34-page toolkit in partnership with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
Titled "Strengthening the medico-legal response to sexual violence," it is designed to be used by people working in health care, social services, forensic medicine and lab services, police, and the legal system.