NATIONAL COURSE ON COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN ON 17TH -19TH NOVEMBER 2017, MUMBAI

Background

Violence is widely recognised as a global public health concern. Evidence indicates that violence – in the form of war, conflict situations, homicide, suicide, domestic violence, maltreatment, and communal violence- is widespread and leads to significant adverse health and social consequences for survivors and their communities. According to National Crime Records Bureau NCRB (2015) 34,651 cases of rape, 91,107 cases of molestation were registered. Additionally 1,13,403 cases of domestic violence were registered across India . This is indicative only of those who reached the police to record a complaint. The National Family Health Survey (NHFS) - 4 (2015-2016) recorded that almost 30% women continue to live in abusive households. It is a well established fact that any form of violence has health implications for survivors.

As survivors of violence approach the health care system for relief of the resulting physical and psychological trauma, health care professionals play an important role in the treatment of such health complaints, rehabilitation of victims, and prevention of further trauma (secondary and tertiary levels of care).

Violence against women has been recognised as a health issue under the National Health Policy, 2017. The link between violence and health has been acknowledged along with the recognition to create services to respond to survivors. Healthcare providers have a legal mandate to respond to survivors of violence under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Criminal Law Amendment Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. It is imperative that healthcare providers be trained to identify and respond to different forms of VAW and children, and be equipped with the requisite skills to respond to the needs of survivors.

In some states, the National Health Mission has also recognised the need for healthcare providers to be trained in responding to VAW. Effective implementation of the One Stop Centres (under the MWCD OSC scheme) requires close coordination with the hospital within which or near which they are located.

CEHAT has been instrumental in developing two evidence-based models for the health sector and is currently working with various states to strengthen the healthcare response to Violence against Women. We view this course as an opportunity to disseminate our learnings and provide technical inputs and skills to healthcare providers on responding to VAW and children.

CEHAT is pleased to announce its ‘National Course on Comprehensive Healthcare Response to Violence against Women and Children’. The course is designed to provide participants an understanding on Violence Against Women (VAW) as a health and human rights issue and equip them with skills to respond to specific needs of survivors of violence in view of changes in the law, guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as well as One Stop Centre Scheme established with support of Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) along with other crisis centers set up with assistance from Department of Health and Family Welfare from states and union territories.

Aim

To understand violence as a public health and human rights issue.
To understand the medico-legal responsibilities of health professionals vis. a vis. violence against women and children
To gain perspective on the root causes of VAW and various forms of VAW
To understand the health consequences of VAW
To build specific skills required to communicate with survivors of violence and offer psychological first aid
To understand the need for inter-sectoral coordination like, legal, police, shelter and other organisations especially through hospital based one stop centre.

Pedagogy

The pedagogy of the course will be participatory with a combination of lectures, group work and discussions, case studies, role plays, individual exercises and sharing, film screening.

Core Faculty

Core faculty will include senior doctors and professionals from the field of Forensics, Gynaecology, law, human rights and social work.

Who can apply

Doctors and nurses from the public health sector are encouraged to participate.
Those from departments of Casualty, Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Psychiatry and Forensics with some experience of having responded to survivors of violence are encouraged to participate.

We have limited seats for 30 participants. Kindly register for the course along with your resume. You will be intimated regarding confirmation of participation.

CEHAT will bear the cost of accommodation during the course. Participants are requested to bear the cost of travel.

Medium of Instruction

English and Hindi

Application Forms are Available Here

Application Deadline: 10th November 2017

Venue will YMCA International House & Programme Centre, 18, YMCA Road, Mumbai Central, Mumbai 400 008. Tel: +91 22 2307 0601/2/3, YMCA

The completed application form can be sent via email to: conference@cehat.org