CONCEPT PAPER
               
                                                               Interaction Program on
          "Interlinkages between "Violence against Women and Women's Health " on the special
                                                               occasion of
                              International Day of Action for Women's Health, 2010



       International Context of International Day of Action for Women's Health, 2010


  Since 1987, the Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Health Network has
coordinated May 28 campaigns to commemorate the International Day of Action for
Women’s Health as part of its ongoing commitment to defend women’s health and
human rights. This International Day of Action for Women's Health (28th May) is such an
occasion to commemorate women’s efforts urging governments and social decision makers to
address violence against women which is one of the main contributing factors leading to poor
health of women. Similarly, 28th May, 2010 is the day most awaited by the people of Nepal as
Nepalese People were promised for a New Constitution by the Constituent Assembly members on
this day. But, the present political situation indicates that the New Constitution by 28th May
2010 is impossible. Hence, our struggle continues further to reinforce the need of constitution to
guarantee women health rights and right to be free from all forms of violence against women
and children. This Program is being jointly organized by WOREC Nepal, Women Health
Networks from 3 districts (Dang, Siraha and Udayapur) and Women’s Reproductive Rights
Program-CAED.

                     Inter linkages between women's health and Violence against Women

The United Nations has defined violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.”

Health is defined as a state of physical, mental and social well-being not merely as an absence of
any disease or infirmity (World Health Organization Constitution, 1946). According to this
definition, a person cannot be considered as a healthy person until that person is forced to live
with discrimination in her or his personal and public sphere. Women as a whole and women from
marginalized communities in particular are forced to live with discrimination and deprivation.
Socio-cultural and politico-economical structures of dominant society and government have been
marginalizing women structurally. This situation has resulted into different forms of violence on
women at their personal and public life affecting their health and well-being.
No country or community is untouched by violence (WHO, 2002)2. Violence is a universal which
cuts across all the social, cultural, geographic, religious and economic boundaries. Millions of
girls and women suffer from violence and its consequences because of their sex and their unequal status in society. Violence against women plays devastating role in increasing the risk to women .
 
1 UN General Assembly. Declaration of the elimination of violence against women. Proceedings of the 85th Plenary Meeting. Geneva: UN (December
20, 1993).
2 World report on violence and health: summary, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2002, pg 10.


  It may take many forms like murder, beating, sexual abuse, rape, forced impregnation,
trafficking, HIV/AIDs, prolapsed uterus , sex selective abortion and so on. Violence against
Women leads to poor health of women and poor health of women further accelerates Violence
against Women. For example, Violence against Women forces women to expose themselves to
early marriage, multiple deliveries to fulfill the preference of son, unprotected sex which puts
women into risk of serious health consequences as Prolapsed uterus, HIV and other forms of
diseases caused by sexual transmission, nutritional disorders or related with women's work as
prescribed by discriminatory social division of work. This situation further aggravates because of
not having appropriate health services for women even within available health services due to
absence of sensitive policy maker or women centered health facilities. This can be clearly
demonstrated in case of prolapsed uterus. Discriminatory social norms and values act as
contributory factors for women's health problems like prolapsed uterus, and on the other hand, the same social values stigmatize women for having the problem. Similarly the same values limits women's role at decision making positions affecting health policies and programs to support
women at second stage of labour which is another key factor leading to prolapsed uterus..
Violence against women is a cause of increasing morbidity among women. It effects on health of
women and children. Yet little attention has been paid to the serious health consequences of abuse and the health needs of abused women and girls. Women who have experienced physical, sexual, or psychological violence suffer a range of health problems, often in silence. They have poorer physical and mental health, suffer more injuries, and use more medical resources than non-abused women. Females of all ages are victims of violence, in part because of their limited social and economic power compared with men. The health effects of violence against women are serious, far-reaching, and intertwined3. According to World Health Organization (WHO), Reproductive health is defined as a state of physical, mental, and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system at all stages of life. Hence, the definition does not limit itself only to the quality and availability of health care, but it also respects and understands the social and cultural factors and women's position in society which has an important role for the social well being. It is important to address the issue of Violence against Women for the physical, social and mental well being of the women because Violence against women and girls has direct linkages on their reproductive and sexual health and rights at all stages of life of women. Therefore, Violence
against Women should be recognized as a priority public health issue.
   
Government Responses to Gender Based Violence in Nepal

Government of Nepal has declared the year 2010 as the "Year against Gender Based Violence".
On 25th November 2009, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has launched a National Plan of
Action Against Gender Based Violence which was an important step by Government of Nepal for
the prevention of Gender Based Violence (GBV) with special focus on the prevention and
protection of women and girl4. However, even after 6 months of the launch of Prime Ministers
campaign output remains the minimal. Survivors are far behind to have access to support and live
with dignity.
 


The overall objective of the program is to unfold the linkages between Women Health and
Violence against Women to clarify burden of disease on women and to develop advocacy strategy
plan.
Methodology of the program :

1) Paper presentation on

• Underpinning factors of Women's Health ( By WOREC Nepal )

•  Unmet health needs of women, an experience from below taking Uterine prolapse and

• other reproductive health issues as case study (From Field)

•  Paper Presentation on Uterine prolapse Prevention by addressing Gender Based

1.  Violence (both by government and non government sector) ( By CAED)

   2) Group Discussion and Interaction for further women health advocacy
  3) Linking Grassroots with National Agenda’s – voice from the field
Participants:
The participants of this program will be NGOs, INGOs, food right networks, students, nursing
association, health right activist, women right activists, media and government organizations.
Expected Outcomes:

•  Sensitized Stakeholders.

•  An action plan for the advocacy on the issues of women health rights will be developed.

Tentative Date: 26th May, 2010 (Wednesday)
Venue: World Trade Centre (WTC), Multipurpose Hall, Tripureswor