Health-Sector Readiness to Prevent and Respond to Violence Against Women and Girls in the WHO European Region: Integrating Prevalence Estimates and Policy Analysis
1
Policy and International Health, Public Health Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom
2
WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development (Venice, Italy), World Health Organisation, Venice, Italy
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1776
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Violence against women and girls remains a critical public health issue in the WHO European Region, affecting an estimated 123 million women and girls over their lifetime. The high prevalence of intimate partner violence reflects persistent structural drivers, harmful gender norms, and inadequate system-level prevention and response.
OBJECTIVES:
To integrate regional prevalence estimates for intimate partner and non-partner sexual violence against women with health policy analysis across 53 countries; assess alignment with WHO standards; identify implementation gaps; and inform priority actions to strengthen health-sector leadership in preventing and reducing VAWG.
METHODS:
This study combined WHO regional prevalence estimates (2000–2023) for intimate partner and non-partner sexual violence developed by the United Nations Inter-Agency Working Group on Violence Against Women Estimate and Data with a structured review of 241 national health and multisectoral policies from 53 countries. Policies were analysed using standardised indicators assessing governance, service delivery, workforce capacity, and multisectoral coordination.
RESULTS:
Lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence among women aged ≥15 years was estimated at 21–22%, non-partner sexual violence at 9%, and combined physical and/or sexual violence at nearly 29%. Only 43% of countries include VAWG within national health strategies and 45% have clinical guidelines. Fewer than 40% include essential survivor services such as emergency contraception, HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, safe abortion, mental health assessment, and referral pathways. However, 75% support workforce training, 68% include first-line support, and 87% report multisectoral strategies involving the health sector, highlighting a substantial gap between policy commitment and operational readiness.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Integrating prevalence estimates with policy analysis provides a powerful advocacy tool to align investments, policies, and programmes. Strengthening health-sector implementation through standardised guidelines, workforce training, data systems, and WHO minimum service packages can improve early identification, quality care, referral pathways, and prevention, positioning health systems as system leaders in reducing VAWG.
Violence against women and girls remains a critical public health issue in the WHO European Region, affecting an estimated 123 million women and girls over their lifetime. The high prevalence of intimate partner violence reflects persistent structural drivers, harmful gender norms, and inadequate system-level prevention and response.
OBJECTIVES:
To integrate regional prevalence estimates for intimate partner and non-partner sexual violence against women with health policy analysis across 53 countries; assess alignment with WHO standards; identify implementation gaps; and inform priority actions to strengthen health-sector leadership in preventing and reducing VAWG.
METHODS:
This study combined WHO regional prevalence estimates (2000–2023) for intimate partner and non-partner sexual violence developed by the United Nations Inter-Agency Working Group on Violence Against Women Estimate and Data with a structured review of 241 national health and multisectoral policies from 53 countries. Policies were analysed using standardised indicators assessing governance, service delivery, workforce capacity, and multisectoral coordination.
RESULTS:
Lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence among women aged ≥15 years was estimated at 21–22%, non-partner sexual violence at 9%, and combined physical and/or sexual violence at nearly 29%. Only 43% of countries include VAWG within national health strategies and 45% have clinical guidelines. Fewer than 40% include essential survivor services such as emergency contraception, HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, safe abortion, mental health assessment, and referral pathways. However, 75% support workforce training, 68% include first-line support, and 87% report multisectoral strategies involving the health sector, highlighting a substantial gap between policy commitment and operational readiness.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Integrating prevalence estimates with policy analysis provides a powerful advocacy tool to align investments, policies, and programmes. Strengthening health-sector implementation through standardised guidelines, workforce training, data systems, and WHO minimum service packages can improve early identification, quality care, referral pathways, and prevention, positioning health systems as system leaders in reducing VAWG.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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