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Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)

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Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)

Sexual and gender-based violence is a medical emergency. It shatters millions of lives around the globe and can occur in any society at any time, but is often worsened by unstable situations such as armed conflicts.
The term ‘sexual and gender-based violence’ covers many different acts, ranging from rape to genital mutilation. In conflict, rape is often used as a weapon, as a form of torture, and in some cases as a strategy to spread HIV/AIDS within a community.
Survivors of sexual and gender-based violence may be left with physical injuries, psychological trauma, and the risk of sexually transmitted infections. Unintended pregnancies as a result of sexual and gender based violence can mean higher rates of abortion – which, when performed in unsafe environments, can have further impacts on reproductive health.

Minja Westerlund
Mental health specialist
Those who smile again despite the odds
 Sometimes even we the staff wonder how anyone could ever survive, physically or mentally, the crimes committed against them. Curiously enough, many of them do...
20 Jun 2013 / 2 minute read
Papua New Guinea
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)
Minja Westerlund
Mental health specialist
Violence beyond belief
This week we saw a patient at the Family Support Center that left us feeling quite disturbed. It was a 24-year-old woman from a village quite far away from Tari who came to our clinic after having been severely assaulted by her husband.
21 May 2013 / 2 minute read
Papua New Guinea
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)
Minja Westerlund
Mental health specialist
For better, for worse
“Do you want to come and see a bride price ceremony?” counselor Leonie asked us last week. Of course I, the project coordinator and the medical doctor Martina were immediately up for it.
08 May 2013 / 3 minute read
Papua New Guinea
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)
Minja Westerlund
Mental health specialist
Change of career
My daily work in the Family Support Center often resembles more that of a teacher than a clinical psychologist. I give the staff weekly training on different mental health related topics and try to create effective learning tools and materials. 
12 Apr 2013 / 3 minute read
Papua New Guinea
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)
Minja Westerlund
Mental health specialist
Many faces of evil
Monday morning for us at the Family Support Center started in a sad way. We received a female patient who had been raped by eight men...
03 Apr 2013 / 2 minute read
Papua New Guinea
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)
Minja Westerlund
Mental health specialist
Voices of the neglected
Today I was updating our patient data base. I went through all patient files from the last two weeks and as the files piled up I felt more and more numb...
20 Feb 2013 / 2 minute read
Papua New Guinea
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)
Entrance to the Family Support Centre
Minja Westerlund
Mental health specialist
Meet the team!
Myself and the fantastic team at the Family Support Centre (FSC).
23 Jan 2013 / 1 minute read
Papua New Guinea
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)
Minja Westerlund
Mental health specialist
The horrors of gang rape
In December the world learnt about the horrendous, violent gang rape of a young woman aboard a bus in India. The woman spent days in intensive care battling for her life, but passed away from her injuries. 
18 Jan 2013 / 2 minute read
Papua New Guinea
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)
Family Support Center Sexual Violence awareness posters
Minja Westerlund
Mental health specialist
Santa Claus greets us from Berlin
The MSF Berlin office holds a Xmas gift auction among the staff at Xmas and donates all the profits to a good cause. This year we are happy to hear that this donation will be given to the Family Support Center...
22 Dec 2012 / 3 minute read
Papua New Guinea
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)
Minja Westerlund
Mental health specialist
Counseling survivors of traumatic events
Before I came on my mission to Papua New Guinea, I studied everything I could find written about the country, and especially about the violence and the treatment of the survivors...
18 Dec 2012 / 3 minute read
Papua New Guinea
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)
Minja Westerlund
Mental health specialist
Heart and soul
In my last entry I wrote about finding the balance between empathy and necessary emotional distance in order to avoid mental exhaustion. So far I feel I have been quite successful in this balancing. However, there have been a couple of moments where I’ve struggled...
14 Dec 2012 / 2 minute read
Papua New Guinea
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)
Minja Westerlund
Mental health specialist
Reporting
Even though the environment I work in is extremely different from what I am used to in Finland, there is one thing that does not change; the monthly reporting. And, contrary to many others who sigh at the mere thought of data tools, I as a data nerd am quite happy to do it...
10 Dec 2012 / 2 minute read
Papua New Guinea
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)