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| Introduction Forms of Gender-based Violence and Their Consequences Effects on Reproductive Health Decision-making Effects on the Economics of Reproductive Health and Family Planning Service Delivery Policy Reform Process |
From the foregoing review of the scope of gender-based
violence, it is clear that addressing the issue of gender-based violence and its
reproductive health effects requires the concerted effort of governments and civil society
as a whole. Programmes will need to incorporate the concept of human rights, recognition
of sexual and reproductive rights as human rights, and commitment to gender equity and
gender equality as stated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Chapter IV of the ICPD Programme of Action specifically pointed out that "experience shows population and development programmes are most effective when steps have simultaneously been taken to improve the status of women". Given the clear policy parameters established by the ICPD, the process of legal and health system reform under way should ensure that the following key policy initiatives are undertaken comprehensively and systematically. Linking sexual and reproductive health and rights. Reproductive health professionals are usually the front-line care providers for women and girls who are victims of violence. The consequences of gender violence, such as miscarriages, pregnancy, induced or illegal abortion, and other gynaecological complications, are very much within the domain of reproductive and sexual health. Health care providers, therefore, need to be conversant with reproductive and sexual rights and their application in practice. They also have a critical role to play in monitoring the adherence to nationally adopted international conventions. Because of the general lack of awareness and sensitivity of many health workers to the health risks faced by victims of abuse, service providers generally give only minimal support or care. If, however, reproductive and sexual health policy were to explicitly incorporate a reproductive rights perspective, then the neglect of abused women and girls could begin to be addressed. The International Planned Parenthood Federation’s Charter on Sexual and Reproductive Rights is one instrument that helps guide efforts to link reproductive health information and services to women’s human rights concerns. Policy-oriented research. The paucity of country-specific information about the extent of violence against women has been a major barrier for policy-making and programming on this issue. Policy-oriented research would provide the hard facts to establish that this "private" and family-related issue has very public consequences. Findings of such research must be applied to the development of appropriate social support systems, including health care delivery. Interagency collaboration. Addressing gender inequality and inequity, which is the root cause of gender-based violence, will require cooperation across a broad spectrum of government and civil society, including the education, health, trade and labour, economic and social sectors. Such a span of activity goes beyond the capacity of a single organization. Recommendations from international forums provide a framework for agencies to develop complementary programmes. The United Nations Development Assistance Framework and the World Bank’s Sector-wide Approach could be used to help coordinate agencies’ support for national programmes designed to eradicate gender-based violence. One example of such an effort is the Inter-American Development Bank programme against violence, which supports research and advocacy to mobilize commitment in several countries in Latin America .
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