Sexual violence as a medical humanitarian emergency: MSF’s approach
© Bénédicte Kurzen
In 2007, MSF teams saw 12,791 victims of sexual violence in 127 projects throughout the world. In some countries, like Burundi and South Africa, MSF runs projects that provide care exclusively to victims of sexual violence. “Having a team that is specialised and well trained enables us to give the best care possible, therefore it is not long before the clinic becomes a reference”, said Thilde Knudsen, MSF women’s health expert. “It is also easier to raise awareness, as care for rape victims is not mixed with a range of other services nor hidden behind them”. In other contexts, a more suitable way of providing care for victims of sexual violence may be to integrate it into mobile clinics, health centres or hospitals. “If we work in every clinic, we will have a better chance of training a lot of people under good supervision, and when MSF leaves they will have experience and training so they won’t be afraid of dealing with it”, said Angie Huyskens, an MSF psychologist who worked in Liberia. Whatever the approach, an optimum package of services should include medical care, psychological support, medical-legal certificates which can be used as evidence in court, and information to help people understand why, how and when to seek care. MSF may also speak out against rape.
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