Stepping up efforts to address, prevent and respond to violence against women and girls is an urgent human rights and public health prerogative, especially in the current context of a staggering rise in gender-based violence (GBV) following COVID-19 and the ongoing economic crisis in the country. As healthcare workers play a critical role in responding to GBV as the first point of professional assistance sought from victims, strengthening the capacity of the health sector is imperative to helping the most vulnerable. On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, WHO is working with national and development partners to scale up efforts to address GBV by strengthening the health sector and building the evidence base to inform policymakers in order to create an environment free of violence, intimidation and harassment for all women.
Growing scourge of gender-based violence
Violence against women (VAW) is a violation of human rights and is rooted in gender inequality.
WHO estimates that globally 1 in 3 women and girls have experienced either physical and/or sexual violence. Preventing and responding to violence against women is a human right and critical for ensuring gender equality.
VAW is a significant issue affecting the health and well-being of women and children in Sri Lanka as indicated by UNFPA’s (2019) Women’s Wellbeing Survey which highlighted the lifetime prevalence of GBV as 20.4% among ever-partnered women . The Humanitarian Needs and Priorities Plan for Sri Lanka (June-September 2022) also reported an increase in domestic violence during the pandemic and economic crisis, especially among women and girls . Women’s exposure to violence has increased in these fragile contexts in the midst of heightened economic insecurity, increased interpersonal stressors and social isolation.
Strengthening the evidence base for informed policymaking
At the global level, WHO, with partner organizations, continues to inform global guidance on preventing and responding to GBV through evidence synthesis and development of guidelines and tools to inform health policy, programme planning and service delivery. In particular, the ‘Strengthening health sector response to violence against women’ resource package and the ‘RESPECT implementation package on prevention of violence against women’ have laid the foundation for strategic interventions for GBV prevention and response efforts. The ‘RESPECT’ package focuses on seven strategies: building Relationship skills, Empowering women, ensuring Services, reducing Poverty, making Environments safer, preventing Child and adolescent abuse and Transforming attitudes, beliefs and norms towards creating a culture of zero tolerance of violence. WHO has also launched a comprehensive management response and a three-year strategy on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PRSEAH) to highlight its zero tolerance as an organization.
Taking action against GBV at the country level
WHO Sri Lanka, in partnership with WHO SEARO along with UNFPA and UN WOMEN, has supported a series of capacity-building programmes on ‘Strengthening Health sector response to violence against women’ and on the ‘RESPECT implementation package on prevention of violence against women’ in 2021-2022. Further, WHO Sri Lanka has been instrumental in the integration of gender and addressing GBV into the nursing basic curriculum in facilitating client-friendly services at healthcare facilities and establishing GBV care services at selected private sector health institutions with the aim of leaving no one behind. WHO’s collaborative efforts have paved the way towards ensuring that health services are accessible to all survivors of GBV and that health workers are capacitated to recognize those at risk early and provide them with the best possible support.
Looking forward, WHO Sri Lanka will continue to strengthen prevention and response to violence against women through scaling up the RESPECT package; sensitizing health staff on survivor-centred GBV care; developing media tools on services available for survivors; and enhancing awareness on preventing and responding to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in collaboration with UN partners, the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders. At a time when the country is reeling from the impacts of COVID-19 and the ongoing economic crisis, overstretched health systems and disrupted social and protective networks mean that women facing violence may experience challenges in accessing life-saving services when they need them the most. Recognising the rising urgency posed by GBV in the country, WHO is intensifying its efforts with partners to advance collective action to prevent and respond to violence in all its forms.
Key related resources
https://www.who.int/news/item/11-10-2020-respect-implementation-package-for-preventing-violence-against-women
[1] https://srilanka.unfpa.org/en/publications/womens-wellbeing-survey-2019
[2] https://www.connectingbusiness.org/sites/default/files/downloads/publication/LKA_HNP_FoodSecurityCrisis_20220609_0.pdf
