‘Violence against women and girls remains a pervasive public health emergency’ – WHO

The European health sector is not reacting adequately to violence directed at women and girls in the region, according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report published on Thursday.

The report covers women and girls from the age of 15 who have been attacked physically or sexually by partners or former partners, along with victims of violence by perpetrators they did not have a relationship with.

“Violence against women and girls remains a pervasive public health emergency in the WHO European Region, affecting nearly one in three women over their lifetime,” the report says. The report reveals “critical gaps in health sector responses,’’ the WHO says.

The WHO’s European region comprises 53 countries and includes countries in Central Asia.

In the report’s foreword it says that ending violence against women and girls is not a duty confined to any one sector but demands a society and sector-wide response. “And here, the health sector is uniquely placed to play a powerful, positive role,” it says.

The report notes that only seven countries in the region provide safe abortion, only 17 emergency mornings after contraception and only 20 psychological supports for victims of violence.

In only 23 countries is referral to psychological health specialists offered.

The authors criticise the fact that medical staff are required to report partner violence to police in almost a third of countries, even if this is against the victim’s wishes.

“Mandatory reporting policies risk violating women’s autonomy and confidentiality, and can deter survivors from disclosing abuse to health-care providers, ultimately preventing access to timely care.

Women may also fear harms to their children, the report says.

But it also noted the growing momentum for health sector action with high commitment to staff training. “Around 75 per cent of countries in the region have policies supporting training of health professionals on violence against women.

This reflects growing recognition of the health sector’s role in identification, response and referral, it says.

According to a WHO study published earlier on Wednesday, more than 30 per cent of all women globally have experienced violence, with the true extent much greater, as many decline to talk about it.