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Don't Excuse Abuse

Sexual violence

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Sexual violence affects millions of people, brutally shattering the lives of women, men and children. It is a medical emergency, but there is often a dire lack of healthcare services for victims.

No statistics on sexual violence provide a complete picture of the problem or its prevalence. Shame, fear, stigmatisation and many other obstacles prevent an unknown number of victims from receiving, or even seeking, treatment. And yet getting immediate medical care after sexual assault is critical in order to limit the potential consequences. In 2022, our teams treated over  39,900 victims of sexual violence; 3,100 more than the year before.

Quick facts about sexual violence

 
Journal article

Care for victims of sexual violence, an organisation pushed to its limits: The case of MSF

10 Apr 2015
Journal article
 
International Women's Day
Women's health

“Because Tomorrow Needs Her” Explores Multiple Health Challenges Affecting Women

Press Release 6 Mar 2015
 
Psychosocial care for survivors of sexual violence
Sexual violence

International Women's Day: Surviving sexual violence during adolescence

Project Update 5 Mar 2015
 
Psychosocial care for survivors of sexual violence
Honduras

International Women's Day: “It is terrible to see a patient—a 12 year-old girl—who has been abused by five or six m

Project Update 5 Mar 2015
 
Central African Republic

Healing broken souls and bodies

Voices from the Field 15 Jan 2015
 
Occupied Minds - Wady Lighrous
Palestine

Occupied Minds: Daily obstacles

Voices from the Field 12 Dec 2014
 
Mental Health in Colombia, September 2014
Photo Story

Minds and bodies marked by sexual violence in Colombia

28 Nov 2014
Photo Story
 
Colombia

Sexual violence, an unattended medical emergency

Press Release 25 Nov 2014
 
Bangui, General Hospital, VVS
Central African Republic

Confronting the painful taboo of rape

Project Update 31 Oct 2014
Advanced HIV management in Homa Bay
Medical Resource

MSF Field Research

We produce important research based on our field experience. So far, we have published articles in over 100 peer-reviewed journals. These articles have often changed clinical practice and have been used for humanitarian advocacy. All of these articles can be found on our dedicated Field Research website.

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