May 2, 2019
Each year, the UN Secretary General issues a report on the implementation of resolutions on sexual violence in conflict situations and to recommend strategic actions. The 2019 report, which appeared at the end of March, states with regards to health(care):
“Survivors often require immediate, life-saving health care, including comprehensive clinical management of rape to manage injuries, administer medication to prevent sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Survivors may also require life-saving psychosocial support to recover from the psychological and social impact of the violence. However, while limited services for post-rape medical and psychosocial care may be available in some urban centres, such services are typically less available in rural areas, and access to medical and psychosocial support for survivors in acute humanitarian crises is extremely limited. In periods of armed conflict, survivors often do not seek care as a result of threats to their lives, stigma, community pressure or the lack of availability or awareness about services. Stigma and discrimination relating to HIV often have profound implications for HIV prevention, care and support.”
In this report, the Secretary General summarizes the situation in 19 countries, both conflict and post-conflict regions.
Download (PDF)