Access to specialised healthcare services. How women and girls fleeing the war can realise their sexual and reproductive rights in the EU

Women and girls who are victims of conflict-related sexual violence face obstacles in accessing specialised healthcare.

When most of a country’s resources are mobilised towards the war effort, the issue of women’ and girls’ reproductive and sexual health are rarely treated as a priority. Coupled with the obstacles and barriers in accessing psychological aid or trauma-sensitive, it further negatively influences women and girls’ well-being.

EIGE’s upcoming study  seeks to assess the gaps and challenges in the provision of reproductive and sexual healthcare services essential for victims of conflict-related sexual violence e.g. obstetric gynecological care; emergency contraception; STI’s prevention and treatment; safe abortion and post abortion care, long and short term psychological counselling.

The study will give a primary focus to women and girls arriving in the EU due to the  Russian invasion in Ukraine who have the right to temporary protection under Council Directive 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001.

As a part of the project, EIGE will:

• Collect and map information on healthcare services provided to women and girl victims of conflict-related sexual violence, including their access to reproductive and sexual services: obstetric gynaecological care; emergency contraception; STI’s prevention and treatment; safe abortion and post abortion care as well as long- and short-term psychological counselling in all 27 Member States.
• Conduct a qualitative analysis of key challenges that women fleeing war encounter when trying to access reproductive and sexual healthcare services, based on interviews carried out in 4 selected Member States.
• Formulate policy recommendations for all EU Member States with an aim to address potential challenges in accessing reproductive and sexual health services by victims of conflict-related sexual violence.

The report will be published in 2023.