Health workers are often the first, sometimes only, point of contact for the millions of women and girls who experience violence. When equipped with the skills they need, health workers are an essential source of life-saving care and support.
Ahead of 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, the World Health Organization (WHO) is launching a new e-learning programme designed to boost health workers’ capacity to identify and support survivors. This free to access, online course builds knowledge and skills to care for and support women experiencing intimate partner violence or sexual violence.
With six interactive sections, the e-learning combines reading materials, animations, exercises, and case studies, culminating in a final assessment to receive a course certificate. The user-friendly interface is accessible for computer, tablet or mobile phone, and in low-bandwidth settings.
This e-learning complements the existing face-to-face training curriculum and can be used as a stand-alone self-study, or as a prerequisite for the face-to-face training that focuses on practising skills. A forthcoming online facilitator’s guide will adapt the content for virtual learning.
Forthcoming resources
Throughout the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which runs from 25 November to 10 December, WHO will launch additional resources including:
- e-learning for humanitarian emergencies, offering health workers working in emergency settings an opportunity to learn about care for survivors of rape and intimate partner violence, available on Disaster Ready and OpenWHO.
- Measurement and data toolkit to strengthen evidence, including a checklist to collect violence against women data, and guidance on improving measurement of violence against women with disabilities and older women.
- Animation videos with survivor voices telling the stories of human suffering behind the numbers and motivating us to listen, express empathy, support survivors and speak out to say that violence against women is never acceptable.
Invest to prevent violence against women
With almost 1 in 3 women subjected to violence, mostly by an intimate partner, this year the 16 Days of Activism campaign campaign focuses on the critical need for investing in prevention.
We know more than ever before what works. Promising interventions exist and need to be scaled up. The RESPECT women framework provides policymakers and programme implementers with seven evidence-based prevention strategies. While multi-sectoral action is needed, the health sector has an important role to play.
We know the numbers and we know what to do. This #16 Days action is long overdue.
As citizens, promote zero tolerance to violence! As health workers offer empathy, care and support to survivors! As governments, finance prevention!
