Download Providing healthcare for the victims of sexual assault

7th Session of Budapest International Model United Nations
Providing healthcare for the victims of sexual assault
World Health Organization (WHO)
Sexual assault and its consequences
Since the beginning of human history women and men have been exposed to various
harassments including multiple versions of physical and psychological abuse. Amongst the most
shocking cases are unfortunately a great many told by the victims of sexual assault.
Sexual assault is not a problem that only recently came into the sight of the media to raise
awareness. It has been there over decades, it occurs time to time in every country and culture. Sexual
assault can affect anyone regardless of age or gender but is equally tragic every time it happens.
Sexual assault is, by definition, any type of sexual contact or behaviour that occurs without
explicit consent1. Sexual assault includes rape and attempted rape, child molestation, and sexual
harassment or threats.
Global estimates published by WHO indicate that about 1 in 3 (35%) women worldwide have
experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in
their lifetime. Most of this violence is intimate partner violence. Worldwide, almost one third (30%) of
women who have been in a relationship report that they have experienced some form of physical
and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner in their lifetime.
This, however, might not be an accurate number, since victims are often unwilling to report
violence. They fear that law enforcement will not believe them, that their evidence will not be
sufficient or that they will be stigmatised.
1
https://www.rainn.org/articles/sexual-assault
7th Session of Budapest International Model United Nations
It is indispensable to state that sexual assault does not start at rape. Sexual assault starts when a
person feels threatened in her/his sexuality in any way by anyone, and can have long-term effects on
victims. It can also have fatal outcomes like homicide or suicide.
● It can lead to injuries, with 42% of women who experience intimate partner violence reporting
an injury as a consequence of this violence.
● Intimate partner violence and sexual violence can lead to unintended pregnancies, induced
abortions, gynaecological problems, and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. The
2013 analysis found that women who had been physically or sexually abused were 1.5 times
more likely to have a sexually transmitted infection and, in some regions, HIV, compared to
women who had not experienced partner violence. They are also twice as likely to have an
abortion.
● Intimate partner violence in pregnancy also increases the likelihood of miscarriage, stillbirth,
pre-term delivery and low birth weight babies.
● These forms of violence can lead to depression, post-traumatic stress and other anxiety
disorders, sleep difficulties, eating disorders, and suicide attempts. The same study found that
women who have experienced intimate partner violence were almost twice as likely to
experience depression and problem drinking. The rate was even higher for women who had
experienced non partner sexual violence.
● Health effects can also include headaches, back pain, abdominal pain, fibromyalgia,
gastrointestinal disorders, limited mobility and poor overall health.
● Sexual violence, particularly during childhood, can lead to increased smoking, drug and alcohol
misuse, and risky sexual behaviours in later life. It is also associated with perpetration of
violence (for males) and being a victim of violence (for females).
7th Session of Budapest International Model United Nations
Sexual assault is in no way the consequence of the sexual orientation of the perpetrator or the
survivor, and a person’s sexual orientation is usually not influenced by sexual abuse or assault. Some
men and boys have questions about their sexuality after surviving an assault or abuse—and that’s
understandable. This can be especially true if the person experienced an erection or ejaculation during
the assault. Physiological responses like an erection are involuntary, meaning that the person has no
control over them.
Sometimes perpetrators, especially adults who sexually abuse boys, will use these physiological
responses to maintain secrecy by using phrases such as, “You know you liked it.” If one has been
sexually abused or assaulted, it is not the victim’s fault. In no way does an erection invite unwanted
sexual activity, and ejaculation in no way condones an assault. Some men who have survived sexual
assault as adults feel shame or self-doubt, believing that they should have been “strong enough” to
fight off the perpetrator. Many men who experienced an erection or ejaculation during the assault may
be confused and wonder what this means. These normal physiological responses do not in any way
imply that the victims wanted, invited, or enjoyed the assault.
Causes
Evidence suggests that certain characteristics of victims, such as sexual orientation, disability
status or ethnicity, and some contextual factors, such as humanitarian crises, including conflict and
post-conflict situations, may increase women’s vulnerability to violence. In 2014, 23 per cent of nonheterosexual women (those who identified their sexual orientation as lesbian, bisexual or other)
interviewed in the European Union indicated having experienced physical and/or sexual violence by
both male and female non-partner perpetrators, compared with five per cent of heterosexual women.
Also, 34 per cent of women with a health problem or disability reported having experienced any
physical or sexual violence by a partner in their lifetime, compared to 19 per cent of women without a
health problem or disability, also based on data from the European Union.2
Factors associated with increased risk of perpetration of violence also include low education,
child maltreatment or exposure to violence in the family, harmful use of alcohol, attitudes accepting of
violence and gender inequality. These are closely related to the development of the region, as shown
on this map:
2
http://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2014/violence-against-women-eu-wide-survey-main-results-report
7th Session of Budapest International Model United Nations
Prevention and response
Prevention and response programmes are evaluated by several studies worldwide, all
concluding that more resources are needed to strengthen the prevention of and response to intimate
partner and sexual violence, including primary prevention.
There is evidence that in high-income settings, school-based programmes may be effective in
preventing relationship violence (or dating violence) among young people, however these are yet to be
assessed for use in resource-poor settings. In low-income settings, strategies to increase women’s
economic and social empowerment, such as microfinance combined with gender equality training and
community-based initiatives that address gender inequality and relationship skills, have shown some
effectiveness in reducing intimate partner violence. Situations of conflict, post conflict and
displacement may exacerbate existing violence, such as by intimate partners, and present additional
forms of violence against women.
7th Session of Budapest International Model United Nations
To achieve lasting change, it is important to develop strict national policies policies that:
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address discrimination against women;
promote gender equality;
support women;
recognise that the victims of sexual assault are not only women;
and help to move towards more peaceful cultural norms.
It is also essential to create an environment in which women can seek medical and legal help without
having to be afraid of social or financial consequences.
An appropriate response from the health sector can play an important role in the prevention of
violence. Sensitization and education of health and other service providers is therefore another
important strategy. To fully address the consequences of violence and the needs of victims/survivors
requires a multi-sectoral response. Reproductive-aged victims of sexual assault are at risk of
unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and mental health conditions, including
posttraumatic stress disorder. Health care providers should screen routinely for a history of sexual
assault and offer victims both emergency contraception and treatment for sexually transmitted
diseases.
Response from the WHO
“WHO, in collaboration with partners, is:
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Building the evidence base on the size and nature of violence against women in different settings and
supporting countries' efforts to document and measure this violence and its consequences, including
improving the methods for measuring violence against women in the context of SDG monitoring. This is
central to understanding the magnitude and nature of the problem at a global level and to initiating action
in countries.
Strengthening research and research capacity to assess interventions to address partner violence.
Undertaking interventions research to test and identify effective health sector interventions to address
violence against women.
Developing technical guidance for evidence-based intimate partner and sexual violence prevention and for
strengthening the health sector responses to such violence.
Disseminating information and supporting national efforts to advance women's health and rights and the
prevention of and response to violence against women.
Supporting countries’ to strengthen the health sector response to violence against women, including the
implementation of WHO tools and guidelines.
Collaborating with international agencies and organizations to reduce and eliminate violence globally.”
(WHO)3
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs239/en/
7th Session of Budapest International Model United Nations
Sources
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https://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/sexual-assault.html
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs239/en/
http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/facts-and-figures
Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at
[email protected] and also please send a position paper of about
300-500 words to the same address by March 17th.