This manual, jointly developed by WHO and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, describes interventions of known effectiveness, those supported by emerging evidence, and those that could potentially be effective, but have yet to be sufficiently evaluated for their impact. For instance, school-based programs to prevent violence occurring in "dating relationships" have been shown to be effective in randomized trials in the USA and Canada. Evidence is emerging for the effectiveness of empowerment approaches which use microfinance combined with gender-equality training or are based on communications and relationship skills training such as the Stepping Stones training package, which has been widely used in low- and middle-income countries. Strategies that aim to prevent intimate partner and sexual violence through reducing the harmful use of alcohol also show promise. A six-step framework for planning, implementing and evaluating such prevention programs and policies is presented.

This document - produced by the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI), in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Ipas -  reviews what is known about sexual violence in the LAC region by exploring the magnitude, patterns and risk factors associated with sexual violence, as well as the legal and policy frameworks, women’s responses to sexual violence, access to services and service responses, promising interventions, research gaps and priorities for future research.

English

Available also in Spanish and Portuguese

This manual provides tools and guidelines that health care managers can use to improve the health care responses to gender-based violence in developing countries. It includes practical tools to determine provider attitudes to gender-based violence, legal definitions, the responsibilities of health care providers, and the quality of care. The manual utilizes IPPF/WHR's experience of integrating services for women experiencing violence into sexual and reproductive health services.