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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

 
Acapulco Sexual Violence
Mexico

Acapulco's population is exposed to violence on a daily basis

Voices from the Field 29 Jul 2015
 
Women's health

Q&A on consequences of unsafe abortion

Voices from the Field 14 Jul 2015
 
Emergency in South Irumu: Vaccinations and distributions in unstable areas
Democratic Republic of Congo

A new project for victims of violence in Boga

Project Update 17 Jun 2015
 
"Because Tomorrow Needs Her" communications project - Repairing Fistulas in Burundi
Women's health

Women's Health: Because Tomorrow Needs Her

Campaign 16 Jun 2015
 
Democratic Republic of Congo

MSF assists more than a hundred women who claimed being sexually abused

Press Release 14 May 2015
 
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
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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