What is the ICRC doing about womens health in armed conflicts?
The ICRC trains local nurses, doctors, hospital staff, female community health workers and traditional birth attendants/midwives, so they can treat female patients effectively, identify victims of sexual violence and refer them to appropriate medical services. This is the case in Liberia, for example. The ICRC also trains community volunteers to counsel victims of rape. For example, the ICRC supports the Maisons d’coute in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These centres provide a safe place for victims of rape to talk about their experiences and receive the support they need in order to re-integrate into their communities. Where women have no appropriate health services because of armed conflict, the ICRC approaches the authorities with a view to finding a solution. The ICRC also supports the building and repair of medical facilities, such as hospitals, health centres and physical rehabilitation centres, taking the specific needs of women and children into account. Furthermore, the
