Health Sector Response to Gender-based Violence: An Assessment of the Asia Pacific Region

Gender-based violence (GBV) is well recognised as a human rights violation and a public health problem with legal, social, cultural, economic and psychological dimensions. Violence against women and girls cuts across class, race, religion and ethnicity and is today no longer viewed as a private matter. Among the impacts are a wide range of health consequences including sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV and AIDS, unintended pregnancies, psychological disorders, deprival of sexual and reproductive rights and diminished well-being. The severe costs of violence against women incurred by children, families, communities and the state are thus well demonstrated and thoroughly documented by the data.

A multi-sectoral response is required to offer comprehensive support to women who suffer violence. In particular, it is probable that no other sector has a greater opportunity to aid women survivors of violence than the health sector.