Washington, DC, September 26, 2017 (PAHO/WHO) - Although some progress has been made in preventing violence in the Americas, there is still "limited recognition of violence and injuries as public health issues that impose a significant burden for countries," health ministers from throughout the Americas were told today.
Meeting at the Pan American Sanitary Conference, the ministers heard a report on the "Impact of violence on the health of the populations in the Americas," which concluded that while 22 countries have invested in integrated plans to address interpersonal violence, "The investment has not been on a level commensurate with the scale and the severity of the problem."
The Region of the Americas has the highest rates of homicide in the world, according to WHO's Global Status Report on Violence Prevention. Moreover, from young girls to older women, one out of every three is beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime, according to PAHO's Strategy and Plan of Action on Strengthening the Health System to Address Violence against Women.
The Pan American Health Organization has intensified its cooperation with countries to strengthen the role of the health system to address interpersonal violence, in particular against women and girls and against children, the report noted, disseminating information, holding workshops and training sessions, and strengthening networks and coalitions.
Despite these efforts, "Few resources, financial or human, are allocated to these areas of work," says the report. "The fact that violence prevention is a complex issue, requiring multisectoral collaboration and long-term investment, also represents a challenge."
To improve the situation, measures should be taken to continue advocating for the recognition of violence as a public health priority and for increased investment by governments in its prevention across the life course, the report said.
Countries should also continue the actions recommended in regional and global strategies and plans of action, and work to achieve the violence-related targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the report concluded.
Links
- Impact of Violence on the Health of the Populations in the Americas: Final Report
- Global plan of action to strengthen the role of the health system within a national multisectoral response to address interpersonal violence, in particular against women and girls, and against children
- Strategy and Plan of Action on Strengthening the Health System to Address Violence against Women
- PAHO/Conference