Sexual violence legislation in sub-Saharan Africa
The Need for Strengthened Medico-Legal Linkages
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3972485 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nduku Kilonzo (LVCT Health), Njoki Ndung’u, Nerida Nthamburi, Caroline Ajema (LVCT Health), Miriam Taegtmeyer (0000-0002-5377-2536, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine), Sally Theobald (0000-0002-9053-211X, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine), Rachel Tolhurst (0000-0002-3005-6641, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine) |
| Year | 2009 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 34 |
| Pages | 10-19 |
| Publication date | 2009-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Reproductive Health Matters (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0968-8080 • E-ISSN: 1460-9576 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1016/s0968-8080(09)34485-7 |
| PMID | 19962633 |
| OpenAlex | W2071453640 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 15 |
| References cited | 12 |
Six sub-Saharan African countries currently have laws on sexual violence, including Kenya, and eight others have provisions on sexual violence in other legislation. Effective legislation requires functioning medico-legal linkages to enable both justice to be done in cases of sexual violence and the provision of health services for survivors of sexual violence. The health sector also needs to provide post-rape care services and collect and deliver evidence to the criminal justice system. This paper reviews existing data on sexual violence in sub-Saharan Africa, and summarises the content of sexual violence legislation in the region and the strengths and weaknesses of existing medico-legal linkages, using Kenya as a case study. Many sub-Saharan African countries do not yet have comprehensive post-rape care services, nor substantial co-ordination between HIV and sexual and reproductive health services, the legal and judicial systems, and sexual violence legislation. These need to be integrated by cross-referrals, using standardised referral guidelines and pathways, treatment protocols, and medico-legal procedures. Common training approaches and harmonised information across sectors, and common indicators, would facilitate government accountability. Joint and collaborative planning and working at country level, through sharing of information and data between the different systems remain key to achieving this
Accountability · Criminology · Economic Justice · Environmental health · Legislation · Political science · Population · Referral · Reproductive health · Sexual violence · Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Issues · Law · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Sex work and related issues · Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
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Effect of sexual violence on planned, mistimed and unwanted pregnancies among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa
Patterns and dynamics of conflict-related sexual violence
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A Systematic Review of Criminal Justice Initiatives to Strengthen the Criminal Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Violence in East Africa
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Communities’ perceptions of factors contributing to child sexual abuse vulnerability in Kenya
The Kenyan national response to internationally agreed sexual and reproductive health and rights goals
Estimates and Determinants of Sexual Violence Against Women in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Measuring improvements in sexual and reproductive health and rights in sub-Saharan Africa
Men's Emic Perspectives on Factors Contributing to Child Sexual Abuse Vulnerability on the Islands of Western Kenya
| Unique citing works | 15 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2011 - 2025 (15) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 14 |