Oral

Health services and human rights are severely challenged in regions where conflcits are taking place. Insecurity limits access to health services, human rights violations including sexual violence may incresae, disease may spread as a result of limitations placed on prevention programs and infrastructure preservation, and health workers may be subject to attack themselves. There is little discussion, however, in the global health community about the roles, skills, responsibilities and protections for health workers in these regions. This session will explore three dimensions of the issue. It will consider the skills and preparations needed to provide health services on a humanitarian basis in such regions the unique contributions they can make clinically and at a policy level in addressing sexual violence; and the vulnerability of health workers in situations of violence and the steps that can be taken globally and at the local level to address them

Session Objectives: Describe the roles health workers play in conflict regions Describe the skills health workers need inw orking in conflict regions Identify the contributions health workesr can make to ameliorating sexual violence in conflict zones Describe the nature and scope of attacks on health workers in conflicts Identify steps to reduce attacks on health workers in conflicts