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Sports |
Violence a major concern
VIOLENCE against women and girls is a
major health and human rights concern.
Women can experience physical or mental abuse throughout their
lifecycle, in infancy, childhood and/or adolescence, or during
adulthood or older age.
While violence has severe health consequences for the affected,
it is a social problem that warrants an immediate coordinated
response from multiple sectors.
This encompasses, inter alia, “physical, sexual and
psychological violence occurring in the family and in the
general community, including battering, sexual abuse of
children, dowry-related violence, rape, female genital
mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women,
non-spousal violence and violence related to exploitation,
sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational
institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women, forced
prostitution, and, violence perpetrated or condoned by the
State”.
Abused women are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety,
psychosomatic symptoms, eating problems and sexual dysfunction.
Violence may affect the reproductive health of women through:
*The increase of sexual risk-taking among adolescents;
*The transmission of STDs, including HIV/AIDS;
*Unplanned pregnancies; and,
*Precipitating various gynaecological problems including chronic
pelvic pain and painful intercourse.
Consequences such as HIV/AIDS or unplanned pregnancies may in
themselves act as risk factors for further aggression, forming a
cycle of abuse.
The costs to the health care system in Papua New Guinea are
increasing due to the increase in violence against women and
girls.
Gazebo Yakz
Madang
 
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