Understanding and addressing violence against women
Violence against women is a major public health problem and a violation of human rights
For women in many parts of the world, violence is a leading cause of injury and disability, as well as a risk factor for other physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health problems (1–3). Violence has long-term consequences for these women and their children, as well as social and economic costs for all society (1,4).
Many international agreements, including the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, have recognized women’s fundamental human right to live free from violence (4).
WHO information sheets
- Overview
- Intimate partner violence
- Sexual violence
- Femicide
- Female genital mutilation
- Human trafficking
- Health consequences
- Heise L, Garcia Moreno C. Violence by intimate partners. In: Krug EG et al., eds. World report on violence and health. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2002:87–121.
- Campbell JC. Health consequences of intimate partner violence. Lancet, 2002, 359(9314):1331–36.
- Plichta SB. Intimate partner violence and physical health consequences: policy and practice implications. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2004, 19(11):1296–1323
- United Nations General Assembly. In-depth study on all forms of violence against women. New York, United Nations, 2006.
