Violence against women (VAW)

The United Nations defines violence against women as any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.

• See fact sheet
• See publications

Women's health and domestic violence against women
WHO’s landmark study documents the horrifying extent of violence against women by their intimate partners. It also clearly shows that violence against women demands a public health response, because the impact of such violence goes far beyond the immediate harm caused, affecting all aspects of women’s future health.

• Overview of the study
• Summary report
• Full report of the first findings

To help ensure better care and support for those who have experienced partner violence or sexual violence, WHO works, among other things, to strengthen the health sector response to violence against women.

• Primary prevention
• Health sector response

Intimate partner violence during pregnancy has been found to be associated with fatal and non-fatal adverse health outcomes for the pregnant woman and her baby due to the direct trauma of abuse to a pregnant woman’s body, as well as the physiological effects of stress from current or past abuse on fetal growth and development.

• See information sheet