Is my daughter still a virgin? Can you, please, check it, doctor?

Gender-based violence is a pervasive public health problem, let alone a violation of human rights. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that, overall, 35% of women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or nonpartner sexual violence. In 2016, the aut...

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Main Author: Sara Rigon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2018-01-01
Series:Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2018;volume=7;issue=1;spage=1;epage=4;aulast=Rigon
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author Sara Rigon
author_facet Sara Rigon
author_sort Sara Rigon
collection DOAJ
description Gender-based violence is a pervasive public health problem, let alone a violation of human rights. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that, overall, 35% of women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or nonpartner sexual violence. In 2016, the author had the privilege to work with an outstanding group of people that helps sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) survivors in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The clinic, run by an international nongovernmental organizations, open walk-in to anyone in need, is functioning to the present day. In its 1st year along, the clinic helped almost 1000 survivors, mainly underaged girls. At the clinic, a highly qualified staff of local doctors and nurses, psychologists, and social workers is available, free of charge, 24 h a day, 7 days a week, and accessible to SGBV survivors in absolute confidentiality. Survivors are offered all the support they might need as per the WHO guidelines, from medical assistance (treating of physical injuries, testing and preventing sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV or hepatitis B, and also gynecological and obstetric care) to psychological counseling, as well as specific referrals to shelters, legal aid, or secondary care as needed. Virginity still is highly valued in Haiti, and the father, mother, the beau-mare, or aunt of the survivor will often approach the doctor and anxiously whisper the question: “Is my daughter (goddaughter, niece) still a virgin?”, “Can you, please, check it, Doctor?” This article presents the perspective of SGBV survivors clinic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
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spelling doaj.art-b6423b82d28e44f48b920e0a13711c702022-12-22T01:32:08ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632018-01-01711410.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_40_18Is my daughter still a virgin? Can you, please, check it, doctor?Sara RigonGender-based violence is a pervasive public health problem, let alone a violation of human rights. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that, overall, 35% of women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or nonpartner sexual violence. In 2016, the author had the privilege to work with an outstanding group of people that helps sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) survivors in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The clinic, run by an international nongovernmental organizations, open walk-in to anyone in need, is functioning to the present day. In its 1st year along, the clinic helped almost 1000 survivors, mainly underaged girls. At the clinic, a highly qualified staff of local doctors and nurses, psychologists, and social workers is available, free of charge, 24 h a day, 7 days a week, and accessible to SGBV survivors in absolute confidentiality. Survivors are offered all the support they might need as per the WHO guidelines, from medical assistance (treating of physical injuries, testing and preventing sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV or hepatitis B, and also gynecological and obstetric care) to psychological counseling, as well as specific referrals to shelters, legal aid, or secondary care as needed. Virginity still is highly valued in Haiti, and the father, mother, the beau-mare, or aunt of the survivor will often approach the doctor and anxiously whisper the question: “Is my daughter (goddaughter, niece) still a virgin?”, “Can you, please, check it, Doctor?” This article presents the perspective of SGBV survivors clinic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2018;volume=7;issue=1;spage=1;epage=4;aulast=RigonGender-based violencehuman rightsvirginityvirginity examination
spellingShingle Sara Rigon
Is my daughter still a virgin? Can you, please, check it, doctor?
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
Gender-based violence
human rights
virginity
virginity examination
title Is my daughter still a virgin? Can you, please, check it, doctor?
title_full Is my daughter still a virgin? Can you, please, check it, doctor?
title_fullStr Is my daughter still a virgin? Can you, please, check it, doctor?
title_full_unstemmed Is my daughter still a virgin? Can you, please, check it, doctor?
title_short Is my daughter still a virgin? Can you, please, check it, doctor?
title_sort is my daughter still a virgin can you please check it doctor
topic Gender-based violence
human rights
virginity
virginity examination
url http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2018;volume=7;issue=1;spage=1;epage=4;aulast=Rigon
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