Violence against women: a priority health issue.

Violence against women and girls is a major health and human rights issue. At least one in five of the world’s female population has been physically or sexually abused by a man or men at some time in their life. Many including pregnant women and young girls are subject to severe sustained or repeated attacks. Worldwide it has been estimated that violence against women is as serious a cause of death and incapacity among women of reproductive age as cancer and a greater cause of ill-health than traffic accidents and malaria combined. The abuse of women is effectively condoned in almost every society of the world. Prosecution and conviction of men who beat or rape women or girls is rare when compared to numbers of assaults. Violence therefore operates as a means to maintain and reinforce women’s subordination. (excerpt)