Thread by @WHO

Today is the International Day to End Violence against Women.

1 in 3 👩🏻👩🏿🧕 around the 🌍 experience physical or sexual violence by:
A husband
A boyfriend
An intimate partner
A lover
A parent
A relative
A colleague
A boss
A stranger

We must #ENDviolence against 👩‍🦰 & 👧!

@WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO Violence against 👩🏻👩🏿🧕 has devastating costs and consequences on individuals, communities and societies. It is a major public health problem and a violation of women’s human rights.
#ENDviolence against women.
bit.ly/30QRjNi #16days

@WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO Violence can negatively affect women’s physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health, and may increase the risk of acquiring #HIV in some settings.
bit.ly/30QRjNi
#orangetheworld #16days

@WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO 👩‍👩🏽🧕who suffer intimate partner violence are:
🔶2 times more likely to experience depression
🔶1.5 times more likely to acquire a sexually transmitted infection
🔶It has health consequences for their 👧👦, socio-economic impacts on the 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦, communities & societies. #EndViolence

@WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO 👩‍👩🏽🧕who are abused are more likely to seek healthcare for a variety of related conditions.
It is crucial to ensure that:
🔴 #HealthWorkers are trained to provide effective, empathetic support
🔴 Health facilities can provide safe & confidential care
bit.ly/2Ody2RH

@WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO Violence against 👩‍🦰👩‍🦱🧕 is widespread. It occurs in all countries of the world, but prevalence varies from country to country.
#ENDviolence #16Days

@WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO Health workers should follow these principles when providing care to survivors.
1⃣ always provide care without discrimination
2⃣ never raise the issue of partner violence unless a woman is alone
3⃣ remember the principle of “do no harm”.
bit.ly/2ODDb4w
#16Days

@WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO No matter where we live, we all have stories of how violence against 👩 has affected our lives or someone we know.
The health system, health care providers & policy makers all have a role to #EndViolence; make sure survivors are heard; and make the 🌍 a safer place for 👩 & 👧.

@WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO Conflict, post conflict, displacement may exacerbate existing forms of violence & present additional forms of #ViolenceagainstWomen.
bit.ly/2Ody2RH
#16Days

@WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO Men are more likely to perpetrate violence if they have:
🔻low education
🔻a history of child maltreatment
🔻exposure to domestic violence against their mothers
🔻harmful use of alcohol
🔻unequal gender norms
🔻a sense of entitlement over women
#orangetheworld #16Days

@WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO Violence against women takes multiple forms:
🔹Intimate partner violence
🔹Physical
🔹Sexual
🔹Psychological
🔹Female Genital Mutilation
🔹Forced and early marriages
🔹Femicide
🔹Trafficking
🔹Virginity testing
STOP violence against women and girls!
#16Days

@WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO There is NO examination that can prove a girl or woman has had sex.
Virginity testing is:
1️⃣ medically unnecessary
2️⃣ often times painful
3️⃣ humiliating and traumatic
4️⃣ a form of violence against women and girls
#Virginitytesting MUST END!
#16Days

@WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO Female genital mutilation is an extreme form of discrimination against women, violates human rights, has NO health benefits and must NEVER be performed. #ENDviolence against women and girls, #EndFGM!
#16Days

@WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO Each year, 12 million girls are 💍before the age of 18, at cost to their:
⚕️Health
👩‍🎓Education
👨‍👩‍👧Safety
🏫Opportunity

Let kids be kids.
#16Days

@WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO Here's how health providers can support women who have experienced violence.
Do no harm, respect their wishes.
#ENDviolence against women and girls! #16days #OrangeTheWorld

@WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO #VirginityTesting is an act of violence against women.

“Virginity testing” aka “two-finger testing” has no scientific or clinical basis. It is an inspection of female genitalia designed to determine whether a 👩 or 👧 has had vaginal intercourse.

We must #EndViolence #16Days

There is NO examination that can prove a girl or woman has had sex.

So-called #Virginitytesting is often performed by inspecting the hymen for tears or its size of opening, and/or inserting fingers into the vagina (the “two-finger” test).

It must NEVER be carried out!

Health professionals and their professional associations should be aware that #VirginityTesting has NO scientific merit and cannot determine past vaginal penetration.

Virginity testing MUST END! #EndVaW
bit.ly/2EpDkXh

Many 🚺 suffer from adverse short- and long-term physical, psychological and social consequences of #virginitytesting - including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress.
In extreme cases, 🚺 may attempt suicide or be killed in the name of “honour”.