Examining violence against healthcare from a gender perspective

Althoug much progress has been made in understanding the problematic of violence against health care and working towards solutions, a gender lens has not been applied to look at how violence against health care in the context of armed conflict and other emergencies affects men and women health workers differently, as well as how these threats and attacks differently affect the extent to which men, women, girls and boys are able to access health care. This study was conceived as a first step in filling the knowledge gap of the interplay between gender and access to health care within a context of violence against health care. The study endeavours to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the issues with an aim to inform more practical, applicable, and appropriate measures on the ground. Ultimately, the study seeks to strengthen current and future work by all stakeholders involved in ensuring safe access to health care by all.

The study was marked by three research phases: desk research (July 2014-January 2015); field research visits to Lebanon and Colombia (12-23 November 2014 and 31 November 8-December 2014, respectively); and finally a stakeholder’s workshop to discuss the study’s findings (Stockholm, Sweden, 27 January 2015).