Violence Against Women as a Global Public Health Issue

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Global Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Violence against women (VAW), particularly intimate partner violence (IPV), is a pervasive global public health concern.
• Its widespread impact necessitates a comprehensive understanding of prevalence, health consequences, and contributing risk factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the scope of intimate partner violence (IPV) as a global public health issue.
• To identify key milestones contributing to the global recognition of IPV.
• To highlight future research and prevention priorities.

Main Methods:

• This article provides a review and synthesis of existing literature and data on violence against women.
• It examines methodological advancements and data collection improvements.
• It analyzes the role of social movements and evidence-based research in shaping global policy and recognition.

Main Results:

• Key milestones include advances in data collection, IPV recognition as a health and criminal justice issue, and advocacy by the women's movement.
• Robust evidence confirms that intimate partner violence is preventable.
• The article underscores the interconnectedness of individual, familial, and societal impacts of VAW.

Conclusions:

• Addressing violence against women requires continued research, particularly on intersectionality and improved measurement of diverse violence forms.
• Scaling up proven prevention strategies is crucial for global health.
• VAW remains an urgent global health priority demanding immediate attention and action.