WUNRN
IOM Press Briefing - 16 July 2010
IOM - International Organization for
Migration - Website: http://www.iom.int
ECUADOR
- FIRST HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM
FOR
VICTIMS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
IOM
and Ecuadorian authorities, including officials of the Ministry of Public
Health, this week opened the first emergency room for victims of gender-based
violence in the country.
The new emergency room, located in the Divine Providence Hospital in the city
of San Lorenzo, near the Colombian border, is considered one of the most
vulnerable areas for gender-based violence with many reported cases.
Because of its geographic location, the city also hosts large numbers of
Colombians who cross the border in search of international protection.
According to official figures, an estimated 83,000 women are victims of
psychological or physical abuse, including sexual abuse, each year in
Ecuador. This translates to 7,000 gender-based violence incidents per
month, and 230 each day.
Working with the Ministry of Health, IOM trained 43 health professionals and
carried out a mass information campaign against gender violence in the region.
The campaign messages focused on the protection of human rights, as well as
prevention and response to gender based violence; targeting the local
population and those seeking international protection.
UNHCR figures estimate that some 85,000 Colombians are living in the northern
border region; and that up to 70 percent of them are in need of special
protection. Of this group, some 35,000 persons, known as "invisible
refugees", have not applied for refugee status, the vast majority due to
lack of information or mistrust of the authorities.
An IOM programme launched in October of 2005 assists Colombians who cross into
Ecuador fleeing the violence of illegal armed groups and in search of
international protection. The programme, funded by the US Department of
State's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), covers Colombia's
border areas with Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela.
For more information, please contact Ana Guzman at IOM-Ecuador, Tel: +
(593-2) 225-3948; Email: aguzman@iom.int
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