Violence

Violence_Infographic_Image Violence is a public health challenge defined by the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that either results in, or has a high likelihood of, resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation. Violence has become one of the leading public health issues of our time. No country or community is untouched by violence and the Eastern Mediterranean Region is no exception.

Because it is so pervasive, violence is often seen as an inevitable part of the human condition, a fact of life to respond to, rather than to prevent. Moreover, its prevention is commonly viewed as an issue for law and order to tackle, not one for health professionals. Their role is not seen beyond that of directly dealing with health, particularly physical health consequences. Such a perception however is rapidly changing, encouraged by the success of public health approaches to other environmental and behaviour-related health problems, such as heart diseases, smoking and HIV/AIDS.