Zarmina Khan
Public health encompasses many issues hygiene, poverty, sanitation, health screening, poverty, immunization and now it deals with the community development. Health development is crucial for national development therefore now it is considered as an important aspect of the government policy. World Health organization had developed a strategy “Health For All” almost 20 years ago to eliminate the diseases by including many partners like different organizations, governments, communities, and individuals to improve the health status of everyone. Health development must be at the center of the social policy agenda because there could be an aspect like Gender-Based Violence (GBV) affecting Public Health. Inclusive sexual education is needed because many girls and boys due to the lack of awareness could be more vulnerable to the different kinds of the gender base violence. GBV has a certain significant inferences on the public health.
Some authorities argue that GBV load is unreasonably carried by low-income countries, especially during the Covid pandemic many people were compelled to live with their abusive partners. This thing has increased the GBV cases all over the world.
Some people claim that GBV does not just confined with the low-income countries, even it doesn’t distinguish based upon the culture, ethnicity or race. GBV can affect anyone. However, there are few factors which cannot be neglected as because of these factors, some women are more vulnerable to sexual or mental abuse e.g. lack of education, attitude of women who bear violent attacks multiple times but don’t report, masculine privilege, and women’s inferior status.
GBV victims can experience different health problems which include physical and mental health issues. GBV victims can have chronic pain and gastrointestinal or sleep disorders. GBV victim’s reproductive health could also be affected and the risk of sexually transmitted diseases could be higher.
In Pakistan, “Ministry of Planning and Development and special initiatives” has formulated a draft “National Policy on ending Violence against women and girls” and the main purpose of this policy is to give right to live a peaceful and violent free life. Moreover, to build up an equitable and just society under the Constitution of Pakistan and its international obligations where they can live with dignity and equality. “Human Right Framework” has been developed to concentrate on GBV against women and girls more comprehensively and it transfers the duty of deterrence of GBV attacks from province to the public domain and concentrates on “Public Bodies”. It takes the charge of the recuperation of the molested and the punishment of the abusers.
It has been mentioned that no person has authority to use his power to punish a person who is accused of any kind of gender base offense.18th Amendment has given powers to the provinces, Legislatures and policy makers hold power on the GBV issues against women and girls.
There are some principles for the Health care providers to deal with the Gender based violence survivors.
- Thoughtfully identify the case, screening and management of GBV cases and have a proper check on the psychological, physical and emotional health of the survivors
- Carefully communicate with them
- Security, privacy and confidentiality
- Data storage and protection
- Referral and follow up care of the GBV survivors
Gender Based violence can causes disabilities and even death of women and these attacks has adverse effects on the reproductive health of adolescents and the women. Management of the GBV cases is crucial because Health care providers can misdiagnose the GBV case if they will not inquire about the Violence. Therefore, the proper identification of the GBV case is necessary. They must be aware of the signs of the violent attack and the availability of the medical care facilities must be checked in hospitals to deal with the GBV cases. It is responsibility of the Health care providers to create the comfortable environment for the survivors so they could tell about the attack and avoid asking the unnecessary questions from survivors. Another important factor is to gather the forensic data properly and keep it secure to make the high chances of legal justice for the GBV attack survivors especially the sexual abuse survivors and keep the data out of the reach of the everyone (relatives of the survivor or even perpetrators). They must have information about national laws and policies regarding the GBV attacks. Moreover, it is necessary to treat respectfully the GBV survivors because they need the emotional and moral support.
The writer is Research Associate at School for Law and Development
