WHO releases toolkit to strengthen medico-legal response to sexual violence
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a toolkit to help countries respond to sexual violence in support of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. According to WHO South Africa’s Greer van Zyl‚ the kit – called Strengthening the medico-legal response to sexual violence – “is designed to be used by people working in health‚ social services‚ forensic medicine and lab services‚ police‚ the legal system (including judges and lawyers)‚ and those coordinating these sectors”.She said it’s “a practical guide to people working in and across all of these sectors‚ so that they can better support the collection of medical and legal evidence”.“It contains one-page reference cards to enable quick and easy access to basic and key information. The aim is to provide a resource that could be particularly helpful in low-resource settings.”WHO’s director-general Dr Margaret Chan said the toolkit was developed together with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and is also supported by UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict.16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children started on Wednesday and runs to December 10.The toolkit can be found here...
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