WASHINGTON, (CMC) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched a new report assessing the status of health sector responses to violence against women and called on countries to accelerate the full implementation of strategies to address what it describes as “this pervasive public health and human rights problem” in the region of the Americas, including the Caribbean.

According to the regional health body, the report – “Addressing violence against women in health policies and protocols in the Americas: a regional status report”, is the first of its kind.

It reviews policies in PAHO’s 35 member-states and offers a roadmap for health systems to join a multi-sectoral effort to address the issue.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one out of every three women in the Americas experience physical and/or sexual violence during their lifetime.

WHO said intimate partner violence is the most common form of violence against women.

It said up to 66 million women and girls are estimated to have experienced this form of violence in the region.

“We know that violence is preventable, which is why the sheer number of women and girls affected by this in our region is particularly shocking,” said Dr Anselm Hennis, PAHO’s director of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health.

“We know more today than ever before about what works to prevent violence against women, so this situation is unacceptable,” he added.

Dr Hennis said the repercussions of violence against women are “devastating not only for their individual health and well-being but for entire families and communities.”

He said consequences include a broad range of physical, sexual, reproductive and mental health problems.

PAHO said the health sector has a key role to play in preventing or mitigating the impact of violence against women.

The new report highlights that 83 per cent of PAHO member states have included this issue in their health plans or policies.

“Making violence against women visible and including it in national health policies and plans sets the tone for engagement on this important topic,” said Britta Baer, PAHO’s regional advisor on violence prevention. “Often without guidance and policies from health ministries, the issue is not prioritized by governments.”

As health workers often treat survivors of violence and are viewed as trusted individuals, the report highlights their key role in early intervention and in the provision of essential care and support.

For this to work, however, the report says health workers require an evidence-based protocol.

It shows that 60 per cent of countries in the region have at least one such protocol, but warns that more needs to be done to enhance their quality and to align them with best practices, especially for first-line support.

PAHO said it considers first-line support as one of the minimum levels of health care survivors of violence against women should receive.

First-line support is known by the acronym LIVES, which stands for: listen with empathy, inquire about their needs, validate their experiences, enhance their safety and support them to connect with additional services, according to PAHO.

The report indicates that only 54 per cent of member states included some aspect of first-line support in their protocols.