A new report from WHO/Europe reveals that the health sector in the European Region is failing nearly one in three survivors of gender-based violence, leaving millions of women and girls without access to essential medical and psychological care. Titled “Care, courage, change: health sector leadership in ending violence against women and girls,” the report highlights that 28.6% of women and girls aged 15 and older will experience physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime, yet most countries do not mandate the full package of care recommended by WHO, including time-sensitive post-rape services and safe abortion access.
The report finds major gaps in service provision across the 53 Member States. Only 13% of countries offer safe abortion services, 32% provide emergency contraception or HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, 38% offer STI prophylaxis or mental health assessments, and 43% provide mental health referrals. Alarmingly, nearly one-third of countries still require healthcare workers to report domestic or intimate partner violence to the police without the survivor’s consent, a practice WHO warns undermines autonomy and deters women from seeking care.
Despite these shortcomings, some progress is noted. About 75% of countries have policies supporting the training of health professionals on gender-based violence, and 68% include first-line support for survivors, ensuring a minimum standard of compassionate, nonjudgmental care. However, the lack of clinical resources and political will to implement the full WHO-recommended package continues to undermine overall effectiveness. Experts emphasize the importance of healthcare workers responding with empathy and competence, noting that even basic support from a trusted professional can significantly aid the healing process.
WHO/Europe calls for immediate action to strengthen health sector responses. Key recommendations include mandating the full package of essential services, removing barriers such as blanket mandatory reporting requirements, and investing resources to implement these services nationwide. Spain’s Health Minister highlighted efforts to integrate primary healthcare as a critical entry point for identifying and treating survivors, including systematic screening, specialized training, and coordination with judicial and social support services.
The report analyses 241 policies across the Region and serves as a roadmap for health systems to become effective first responders to gender-based violence. WHO/Europe stresses that political commitments must now translate into funded actions to ensure every woman and girl has access to life-saving care, dignity, and choice, emphasizing that the health sector must no longer be a bystander to this pervasive public health crisis.
