OPS launches rapid assessment tool to improve care for women survivors of sexual violence

Washington D.C.- – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) presented today a rapid assessment tool to improve care for women survivors of sexual violence, in a context of persistently high levels of violence against women in the Americas, where it is estimated that one in three women has suffered physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. The tool offers the region's public health sector a practical, evidence-based instrument to assess services in emergency rooms and clinics, identify critical gaps in post-violation care, and strengthen the health personnel's response to one of the most widespread public health and human rights challenges in the region. The new tool, presented in a webinar on improving care for women survivors of sexual violence, with more than 400 participants, will allow countries to translate regional commitments on violence against women into concrete improvements in health facilities, measuring how services respond to the needs of survivors and guiding the next steps to strengthen care. "Every woman and girl who has been sexually assaulted deserves timely, sensitive, and comprehensive health care," said Britta Monika Baer, PAHO advisor on Violence and Injury Prevention. "Health systems are not just a means of response, but lifelines whose actions can restore dignity, prevent lifelong injuries and trauma, and break the cycle of violence. By prioritizing survivor-centered care and equipping health workers with tools, we can ensure that no survivor is left behind." The rapid assessment tool is based on the PAHO Strategy and Plan of Action for Strengthening the Health System to Address Violence against Women 2015–2025, which recognizes the central role of the health sector in both responding to and preventing violence. When Ministries of Health requested practical tools to monitor progress in relation to regional indicators and improve services with limited resources, PAHO developed this tool with the support of the Government of Canada. The tool is the direct result of extensive collaboration with teams from the Ministries of Health and regional focal points on violence against women, ensuring that the instrument reflects the realities and operational needs of health services in Latin America.

Timely and compassionate attention

In the Americas, where rates of sexual and physical violence remain high, post-rape care, provided in a timely and compassionate manner, is crucial to prevent unwanted pregnancies, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as to protect the safety and well-being of survivors. The tool, the first of its kind, was initially designed in Spanish and adapted to the health services of the Americas. It is based on the clinical guidelines and regulations of the World Health Organization (WHO) on intimate partner violence and sexual violence, as well as on existing quality assurance instruments from partners. PAHO adapted these guidelines to the context of the Region, with a focus on the core elements of post-rape care and frontline support competencies. The tool has been piloted in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, and Peru, in a process that included close collaboration with the Ministries of Health, national and sub-national health managers, and hundreds of health workers. The active participation of professionals in the countries not only strengthened the relevance of the tool and its adaptability to diverse contexts and implementation modalities, but also strengthened the institutional capacity for its deployment and adoption. Subsequently, the tool was validated through a series of meetings with experts and focal points from the Ministries of Health. By helping services assess how they identify survivors, privacy and informed consent are ensured, providing life-saving interventions and connecting women with other services. The tool also generates crucial data and capabilities to mitigate the consequences of sexual violence on women's health and well-being, so that every woman and girl can access quality and respectful care, and thus move towards a life free of fear and violence.