International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

On 17th December 1999, the General Assembly of the United Nations designated 25th November each year as the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women” and invited governments, international organisations and NGOs to organize activities designated to raise public awareness of the problem on that day. FIGO and its member societies have been actively involved in addressing the basic human right of a woman to live a life free of violence and some examples are reflected here.

Gender Based Violence affects women at all levels of society in all countries of the world and is complex in its causation and remedies. While poverty is frequently a confounding factor, the cultural context of a given society, including its tolerance of violence, is of greater influence. Gender equality and Empowerment of women, Millennium Development Goal #3, is known to be a critical factor, yet the target of equal education at all levels will not be enough in isolation to eliminate violence. Approaches to address gender based violence need to be customized at the community level to effect behavioral change. Enabling policies and laws send a strong message at the national and international level.

The impact on women’s health is well recognized, with the annual economic cost of intimate partner violence alone accounting for 3.3% of gross domestic product in the United States. ($40.2 billion in England and Wales). The consequences of gender based violence include quantifiable physical and psychological injuries such as: HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancy, adverse pregnancy outcomes, gynecological problems, including vaginal bleeding and vaginal infections, urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal disorders, irritable bowel syndrome and various chronic pain syndromes, including chronic pelvic pain. Violence is also a significant and underreported cause of maternal mortality.

The Role of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Gender Based Violence

Leadership can and does begin at the professional organization level. In keeping with this aim, many FIGO member societies undertake activities specifically designed to highlight the problem of violence against women and mark this very special day, both to raise public awareness and actually achieve the wider aim of eliminating the violence that many women face on a daily basis. A few examples this year include:

In Indonesia, for example, our colleagues at Perkumpulan Obstetri Dan Ginekologi Indonesia  - The Indonesian Society of Obstetrics & Gynecology – have for a number of years been involved with the country’s Center for Reproductive Health at The University of Indonesia in the production and revision of standard procedure for delivering integrated reproductive health care that includes counselling  on domestic violence. The procedures are designed for use by clinic staff, residents and medical students. Medical records routinely record the number of domestic violence victims. Simultaneously, during the preparation of a Law on Domestic Violence (No 23/2004), the society through the Center has actively participated in meetings and discussions with the government and women's groups. In the country, training in issues relating to gender and domestic violence is given to medical doctors and specialists, midwives, nurses, nurse-aids, health technicians, counsellors and clients. The society lobbies to formally add rights-based counselling services (including those designed to address domestic violence) as part of an integrated reproductive health standard procedures in the medical record form; and plans to assist with the development of a crisis centre for domestic violence survivors.

In Mexico, members of the Federation of Mexican Gynecologists and Obstetricians have produced a comprehensive illustrated guideline on the appropriate management of a woman who has been sexually assaulted.

In Nepal, The Nepal Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is, for the first time in 2007, planning to organise a short interactive programme on “Eliminating Violence against Women”in collaboration with the largest referral hospital of the country. This hospital has been selected as a model site for providing care and support to women affected by gender based violence and few training workshops and studies have already been conducted there. The society intends to invite stakeholders with similar interests including representatives of the country’s Ministry of Health.

In Norway, Norsk Gynekologisk Forening – The Norwegian Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics - has a special section and a professor dealing specifically with this matter at the University of Trondheim. At the University, a special unit has been created to receive victims of sexual assault, whether children or adults. Plans are still being developed to mark this year’s “international day” but in previous years an organisation of men against violence has also been particularly active in the country.

In Peru, members of FIGO’s affiliate –Sociedad Peruana de Obstetricia y Ginecologia – are actively participating in marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by their involvement in video Forums about Violence and maternal mortality, awareness campaigns directed at health professionals and the public in general, radio and television interviews, magazines and newspaper advertisements,  and organised marches.

FIGO is committed to increasing its public profile to raise awareness and provide education and advocacy through the Federation and its member societies on serious and neglected issues affecting women’s health and lives globally. Gender based violence is one of the driving forces behind this development.