Join us on Thursday, December 4th, at 10:00 a.m. (Washington, D.C. or EST time) for the event "Improving Care for Women Survivors of Sexual Violence." During the event, the PAHO Rapid Assessment Tool will be presented to improve care for women survivors of sexual violence and strengthen technical exchanges between countries within the framework of the Community of Practice of Focal Points of Ministries of Health on violence, promoting joint learning and regional cooperation.
Objectives
- To present the structure, versions, and implementation guide of the Rapid Assessment Tool and share results and lessons learned from pilot countries.
- To facilitate the exchange of experiences and practical recommendations among policymakers and technical teams in the health sector across countries through the Community of Practice, to promote the adaptation and sustainable use of the tool, and to improve the health system's response to sexual violence.
- To identify next steps and opportunities for technical collaboration among countries to strengthen care for women survivors of sexual violence and continue consolidating the networking of the Community of Practice.
RECORDING
How to participate
- DATE: Thursday, December 4, 2025
- TIME: 10:00 a.m. (Washington, DC time or EST) [Check at the end of the page the time in other cities]
- LANGUAGES: Spanish and English, with simultaneous interpretation in those languages
Agenda
- 10:00 a.m. Welcome Remarks
- 10:10 a.m. Technical Presentation of the Tool
- 10:30 a.m. Panel: National Experiences
- 11:10 a.m. Community of Practice Dialogue
- 11:20 a.m. Closing Remarks and Next Steps
Context
In the Americas, violence against women and girls remains a serious challenge: it is estimated that 1 in 3 women and girls has experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner or sexual violence at some point in their lives. Sexual violence has severe consequences for the mental, physical, sexual, and reproductive health of survivors.
In 2015, PAHO Member States adopted the Strategy and Action Plan on Strengthening the Health System to Address Violence Against Women, 2015–2025, which recognizes the fundamental role of the health system in response and prevention. To address Member States’ requests for practical tools adapted to the region, and with support from Canada, PAHO developed a Rapid Assessment Tool to Improve Care for Women Survivors of Sexual Violence. The tool—developed with the participation of several Member States and validated in a pilot project with six countries—offers evidence-based versions, an implementation guide, and practical recommendations for adapting its use to national and subnational contexts. It is the first tool of its kind developed in Spanish and designed specifically for the Americas.
This seminar is also part of the activities of the Community of Practice of Focal Points of Ministries of Health on Violence in Latin America, a forum that promotes technical exchange among countries to strengthen the health sector's capacity to prevent and address violence against women. The December meeting marks the end of this community's annual work cycle, providing an opportunity to share progress, lessons learned, and regional priorities for the coming year.
Time in other cities
- 7:00 a.m. – Los Angeles, Vancouver.
- 9:00 a.m. – Belmopan, Guatemala City, Mexico City, Managua, San José (Costa Rica), San Salvador, Tegucigalpa.
- 10:00 a.m. – Bogotá, Lima, Quito, Kingston, Panama City, Memphis, Havana, Nassau, Ottawa, Port-au-Prince, Washington, D.C.
- 11:00 a.m. – Bridgetown, Caracas, Castries, Georgetown, La Paz, Port of Spain, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Saint George´s Saint John´s.
- 12:00 p.m. – Asunción, Buenos Aires, Brasília, Montevideo, Paramaribo, Santiago.
- 4:00 p.m. – Geneva, Madrid.
For other cities, please refer to the local time at this link.