In a context of persistently high levels of this type of violence in the region, it is estimated that one in three women has experienced physical and/or sexual violence in her lifetime.

The tool offers the region’s public health sector a practical, evidence-based instrument to evaluate services in emergency rooms and clinics, identify critical gaps in post-rape care, and strengthen the response to one of the most pressing public health and human rights challenges.

Presented at a webinar on improving care for women survivors of sexual violence, the new tool will allow countries to translate regional commitments on violence against women into concrete improvements in health facilities.

The goal is to measure how well services are responding to the needs of survivors and to guide the next steps in strengthening care.

Every woman and girl who has been sexually assaulted deserves timely, sensitive, and comprehensive health care, Britta Monika Baer, ​​PAHO Advisor on Violence and Injury Prevention, said.

This initiative is a direct result of extensive collaboration with teams from Ministries of Health and regional focal points on violence against women, ensuring that the realities and operational needs of health services in Latin America are reflected.

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