Referring to the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women - A/RES/48/104 Article 3 (b) The right to equality,
Convinced that women must be provided with the same quality of health services as men,
Concerned that where women's health needs differ from men's they must be given access to at least comparable services to meet those needs, including diagnosis, treatment and follow-up services,
Recognising that appropriate health services are essential for women with special needs, for example women who are the victims of rape,
The International Council of Women calls upon its affiliated national councils to:
1. Investigate discrimination against women in differing health approaches and health treatments for women and men,
2. Request their governments to monitor the impact of health services on women's health status where women's needs are different from men's,
3. Request their governments to provide appropriate health services for women with special needs, and in particular women who have been raped including:
• Examination in a safe environment by medical doctors or suitably qualified nurses, who have been trained to handle rape cases and who approach rape as a violation of human rights,
• Access to post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV/AIDS,
• Counselling by understanding counsellors who have been trained in the management of rape cases and who approach rape as a violation of human rights,
4. Ensure the provision of widely available information and education on health services for women.
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Source: International Council of Women (ICW-CIF) — General Assembly, Kiev, 2006. Resolution No. 2.
