Ministries of Health, Women Join Forces to Tackle Sexual Violence

Mexico's Ministry of Health (SSA) and the Ministry of Women have signed a collaboration agreement to improve the response to sexual violence. The “Commitments of the Health Sector for the Prevention and Comprehensive Care of Sexual Violence in Girls, Adolescents, and Women” agreement is part of ongoing efforts to address the impact of sexual violence in the country.

David Kershenobich, Mexico’s Minister of Health, and Citlalli Hernández, Minister of Women, signed this agreement with the goal of enhancing the healthcare system's capacity to address sexual violence, as reported by SSA. Kershenobich says that the collaboration represents a commitment to reducing and managing the impact of gender-based violence through coordinated health sector efforts.

This initiative seeks to unify public health institutions in delivering integrated, rights-based, and discrimination-free care to address this pervasive issue effectively, as reported by MBN.

Yolanda Varela, Director General, National Center for Gender Equity and Reproductive Health, explains that the agreement’s key considerations include recognizing sexual violence as a medical emergency, improving the identification of sexual violence cases, particularly among pregnant minors, and expanding access to health services for victims.

The agreement also includes a commitment to ensure that victims of sexual violence receive comprehensive and sensitive care, including psychological support. The initiative also aims to prevent the revictimization of survivors in healthcare settings by training healthcare providers and improving coordination across institutions for case referrals.

The agreement coincided with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, marking the start of 16 days of activism. Violence against women is both a significant public health issue and a violation of women's human rights, according to WHO. Around the world, one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives, with the majority of these incidents being perpetrated by an intimate partner. In Mexico, it is estimated that 70.1% of women have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, with 39.9% of those cases originating from a partner.

The measures outlined in the agreement aim to improve the availability and quality of care for survivors of sexual violence. The "Decalogue" includes the following key commitments:

1. Recognize sexual violence as a medical emergency.

2. Identify and address cases of sexual violence in girls and adolescents.

3. Expand access to health services for survivors of sexual violence.

4. Ensure the availability of necessary medical resources for sexual violence care.

5. Provide sensitive and comprehensive counseling to victims.

6. Offer specialized psychological care to survivors.

7. Prevent revictimization in healthcare settings.

8. Promote training and supervision to ensure compliance with protocols.

9. Participate in the development and application of prevention and care protocols.

10. Strengthen collaboration among institutions to manage cases of sexual violence.