Sexual violence

Sexual violence is currently viewed as a global public health problem by the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO's website currently has a wealth of information on the issue (www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/interpersonal/ip3/en/ and www.who.int/reproductive-health/publications/rhr_02_8/clinical_management.pdf). These resources give an insight into the extent of the problem, the consequences and risk factors predisposing to sexual violence, and highlight possible preventive measures.

Another informative site on the problem is hosted by the Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights (www.stopvaw.org). This site is a "tool for the promotion of women's human rights in the countries of central and eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Kosovo." The site seeks to "address violence against women as one of the most pervasive human rights abuses worldwide." The site features information on forms of violence against women encountered in these regions, namely domestic violence, sexual trafficking, sexual harassment, and sexual assault. It also offers specific information for each of the countries in eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The United States National Sexual Violence Resource Centre (www.nsvrc.org)is a comprehensive collection and distribution centre for information, statistics, and resources on sexual violence. Although it does not provide direct services to victims, the centre provides support for organisations that help victims. It is funded by a grant from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres (www.casac.ca) is a pan-Canadian group of sexual assault centres working to provide legal, social, and attitudinal help to eradicate sexual violence. The site offers information on different angles of the issue, including links to the current and past research projects.

In conflict situations, sexual violence is often used as a weapon of war, and many conflicts around the world have been characterised by gross human rights abuses in the form of sexual violence. Amnesty International (www.amnesty.org), the British based human rights watchdog, has published excerpts of the interviews it did in Rwanda about a decade after the genocide that occurred there. Many of these women are now HIV positive, with some in the terminal stages.

The National Association of Male Sexual Services site (www.namsas.org.uk) hosted by Survivors UK, contains resources for men who have experienced sexual violence. It gives information on recommended reading lists, counselling helplines for men, and results of academic research about sexual violence.