"Violence: Ethics, Justice and Women's Health" A symposium in Monterrey, Mexico

Violence against women is a pervasive, worldwide social problem that requires a broad, interdisciplinary approach for prevention and care of survivors. In August 2000, experts in health, education, social work and justice gathered in Monterrey, Mexico, for a three-day symposium that highlighted the problem and recommended ways to provide comprehensive care to violence survivors.

The Monterrey Society of Obstetrics-Gynecology (Ob-Gyn) organized the symposium in collaboration with the Nuevo León Secretariat of Health, the Mexican Ob-Gyn Society and Ipas. Participants included professionals from Mexico and several other countries.

Working groups in three themed workshops developed a series of recommendations for prevention and intervention programs that could be implemented at the state and national level. Recommendations emphasized prevention and highlighted the health professionals' responsibility to provide information and comprehensive care to women to manage complications and consequences of sexual violence. Participants highlighted the need to link the judicial-legal sector with the health sector so that women who have been raped will have access to clinical, legal and psychological services.

Upon endorsement by the Secretariat of Health, the recommendations will be disseminated to Ob-Gyn Societies at the state and national levels and to those working in the field of domestic violence. These recommendations will be helpful in advocating for change and improving services to survivors of gender-based and sexual violence in Mexico.

For more information contact:

ipasmex@df1.telmex.net.mx

For more information, contact:
Kirsten Sherk
Senior Associate, Media Relations
e-mail: sherkk@ipas.org
phone: 919.960.5612
fax: 919.929.0258