WHO launches new manual to strengthen health systems to better respond to women survivors of violence

World Health Organisation (WHO) Violence against women is a major public health problem, a gender inequality issue and a grave violation of human rights. Violence against women includes physical, sexual and psychological violence by an intimate partner and, non-partner sexual violence. WHO estimates that 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced physical and / or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner.

(...) Health care providers, therefore, have an important role to play in identifying women who experience violence, and responding to them with empathy. (...)

In recognition of this, WHO has launched a new manual to help health managers and policy-makers to strengthen health systems to deliver better quality of care to women who are subjected to violence." (Photo: DFID - UK Department for International Development/flickr, CC BY 2.0)

• www.who.int