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The Department of Gender, Women and Health (GWH)
GWH brings attention to the ways in which biological and social
differences between women and men affect health and the steps needed to
achieve health equity.
The main focus of GWH is to promote the inclusion of gender
perspectives in the work of the WHO by collaborating with other
departments and, regional and country offices. It aims to increase
knowledge of gender issues by conducting research, training and advocacy
on how socio-cultural factors and discrimination affect health.
While gender affects the health of both men and women, GWH places
emphasis on the health consequences of discrimination against women that
exist in nearly every culture. Powerful barriers including poverty,
unequal power relationships between men and women, and lack of education
prevent millions of women worldwide from having access to health care and
from attaining — and maintaining — the best possible health. Integrating
gender analysis and actions into the work of WHO
MAIN AREAS OF WORK
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND
GENDER ASPECTS OF HIV/AIDS
Violence against Women (VAW) and HIV/AIDS are key, yet
insufficiently addressed areas where gender-based discrimination
affects women's health. Work relating to this theme includes: a
multi-country study on women's health and violence; the Sexual
Violence Research Initiative; the development of guidelines for
gender sensitive HIV/AIDS programmes; and an initiative to improve
the health of women in emergency settings.
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INTEGRATING GENDER INTO
HEALTH POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES
It is essential to translate knowledge into concrete actions to
correct health inequities faced by men and women. Tools currently
being developed include: technical support materials and curricula,
resource kits, on-line training modules, and documenting "best
practices". Emerging areas of work include the role of men and boys
on gender and health equity and the use of gender-sensitive
indicators and sex-disaggregated
data.
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MAIN STRATEGIES
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Increase knowledge and evidence on how sex differences and gender
inequalities impact upon specific health problems, health services and
successful responses;
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Develop tools to promote and expand health sector policies,
interventions and programmes at the regional and country level that
systematically address gender concerns, including gender-based
violence;
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Develop skills and build capacity within and outside of WHO in order
to promote policies and programmes that are more responsive to barriers
affecting women's and men's ability to lead healthy lives and receive
and benefit from health care services;
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Improve public understanding of gender issues by developing advocacy
materials and activities;
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Create awareness and provide support to WHO Member States to design
and promote gender-sensitive health policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions - What
do we mean by "sex" and "gender"? - Why
gender and health? - Why
gender and women's health? - What
is "gender mainstreaming"?
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