International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November: the importance of breaking the silence

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we need to talk about sexual violence, especially in the context of the migration crisis. We witnessed:

• Irregularities.
• sexual exploitation.
• Forced service or labor.
• Often practices similar to slavery.
• Exploitation of children and adults.

Why is November 25th designated as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women?

November 25, 1960 Three militants who opposed the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillosisters Mirabal, They were beaten and thrown into the abyss In the Dominican Republic. The date of his brutal death became a landmark throughout Latin America to commemorate his fight known as the “Battle of the Butterflies.”

in his memory, in Year 1999the United Nations (UN) designated the date of her death as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, with the aim of make visible, Raise awareness, condemn and demand public policy End the violence that all women around the world suffer.

Sexual violence: A recurring reality in the migration crisis

From 2023 to now, we have carried out 1,132 sexual violence consultations. 550 cases in Mexico (January to October), 397 cases in Panama (January to October), 76 cases in Honduras (January to October), 61 cases in Guatemala (January to October), 37 cases in Brazil (January to September) and 11 cases in Peru (January to October). – October). – August).

Of the 1,132 cases we handled, 997 (88%) were sexual violence against women, 115 (10%) were sexual violence against men, and 20 (2%) were sexual violence against LGBTQIA+ people. violent cases.

These cases show the surface of the problem, as under-registration is severe, largely due to Numerous barriers exist for victims seeking and receiving help. For example, in our project we found a lack of awareness that sexual violence is a medical emergency.

Meanwhile, many believe the sexual violence was a single incident. Standardized practices in communities or immigration processes The most important thing is to continue on this path.

In other cases, intense threats from the abuser or family, as well as social pressure, lead the person not to seek medical assistance.

A core factor is the fear of legal proceedings in a foreign country, which could slow progress on the route. Prioritizing reporting and legal proceedings over medical care is to prioritize perpetrators over survivors..

Another common barrier for many survivors of sexual violence They don’t get preventive treatment Used to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and in many cases They were not tested for HIV Know your serological status; they are also not tested for syphilis, and it is difficult to get psychological support after an incident of sexual violence.

In fact, in many cases post-exposure prophylaxis kits are not available because health agencies do not have the category to provide them.

In general, when caring for immigrant populations, we found that institutional health staff had negative attitudes toward survivors (many times due to xenophobia or the criminalization of immigrants). Furthermore, migration situations exacerbate people’s vulnerabilities and expose them to greater risks.

We also show that in many places, Survivors re-victimized as they are forced to travel long distances to seek care. There were still 2 or 3 medical professionals who checked and confirmed that it was “rape”, which once again proved that the survivors’ words were not true.

Sexual violence is a public health issue

Current approaches to care for survivors of sexual violence in our region aim to be widespread, but in practice the government does not emphasize the need for those affected by sexual violence to seek immediate help from health facilities.

Our call is for Sexual violence is viewed as a public health issue rather than a primarily criminal issuethe situation is further complicated when migrants do not receive documentation or institutional support.

It is worth emphasizing that comprehensive health care is the only service guaranteed to save the lives of victims of sexual violence.

What should you do if a sexual assault occurs?

From a health perspective, sexual violence represents a race against time:

• Within the first 72 hours after an attack, it is possible Provide HIV/AIDS prevention and antibiotics Helps prevent infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and avoid unwanted pregnancies.
• During the first 120 hours, treatment includes Provide emergency contraception to avoid unwanted pregnancy and prevent infection.
• Within the first 6 months you can Hepatitis B and tetanus vaccinationsbut lost the opportunity to treat other diseases.

Therefore, major impacts on physical health include unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and fistulas. The main impacts on mental health are feelings of sadness, depression, suicidal ideation, feelings of fear or threat, irritability, anxiety, guilt, worry, sleep problems, etc., which can affect survivors for years or throughout their lives.

How to prevent sexual violence?

Governments across the region must take urgent steps to reduce cases of sexual violence, which means Create a safe route YearI respect the rights of immigrants.

Likewise, the health of migrants must be improved, Expanding access to services for survivors of sexual violence And provide comprehensive services to serve people in less than 72 hours after an incident.

In this sense, it is crucial Public and institutional information is enhanced Cases of sexual violence are first and foremost a medical emergency and must be treated as a confidential public health issue, prioritizing the medical and psychological care of those affected to avoid their marginalization and this reality being ignored.

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most widespread human rights violations around the world. We will continue to work to expose this cruel practice which, despite widespread social progress, continues to be suppressed by a system that promotes impunity for perpetrators, social stigmatization and shame for victims.