In more than 70 countries, Médecins Sans Frontières provides medical humanitarian assistance to save lives and ease the suffering of people in crisis situations.
We set up the MSF Access Campaign in 1999 to push for access to, and the development of, life-saving and life-prolonging medicines, diagnostic tests and vaccines for people in our programmes and beyond.
Based in Paris, CRASH conducts and directs studies and analysis of MSF actions. They participate in internal training sessions and assessment missions in the field.
Based in Geneva, UREPH (or Research Unit) aims to improve the way MSF projects are implemented in the field and to participate in critical thinking on humanitarian and medical action.
Based in Brussels, MSF Analysis intends to stimulate reflection and debate on humanitarian topics organised around the themes of migration, refugees, aid access, health policy and the environment in which aid operates.
This logistical and supply centre in Brussels provides storage of and delivers medical equipment, logistics and drugs for international purchases for MSF missions.
This supply and logistics centre in Bordeaux, France, provides warehousing and delivery of medical equipment, logistics and drugs for international purchases for MSF missions.
This logistical centre in Amsterdam purchases, tests, and stores equipment including vehicles, communications material, power supplies, water-processing facilities and nutritional supplements.
SAMU provides strategic, clinical and implementation support to various MSF projects with medical activities related to HIV and TB. This medical unit is based in Cape Town, South Africa.
BRAMU specialises in neglected tropical diseases, such as dengue and Chagas, and other infectious diseases. This medical unit is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Our medical guidelines are based on scientific data collected from MSF’s experiences, the World Health Organization (WHO), other renowned international medical institutions, and medical and scientific journals.
Providing epidemiological expertise to underpin our operations, conducting research and training to support our goal of providing medical aid in areas where people are affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or excluded from health care.
Evaluation Units have been established in Vienna, Stockholm, and Paris, assessing the potential and limitations of medical humanitarian action, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of our medical humanitarian work.
MSF works with LGBTQI+ populations in many settings over the last 25-30 years. LGBTQI+ people face healthcare disparities with limited access to care and higher disease rates than the general population.
The Luxembourg Operational Research (LuxOR) unit coordinates field research projects and operational research training, and provides support for documentation activities and routine data collection.
The MSF Paediatric Days is an event for paediatric field staff, policy makers and academia to exchange ideas, align efforts, inspire and share frontline research to advance urgent paediatric issues of direct concern for the humanitarian field.
The MSF Foundation aims to create a fertile arena for logistics and medical knowledge-sharing to meet the needs of MSF and the humanitarian sector as a whole.
A collaborative, patients’ needs-driven, non-profit drug research and development organisation that is developing new treatments for neglected diseases, founded in 2003 by seven organisations from around the world.
Sexual violence affects millions of people, brutally shattering the lives of women, men and children. It is a medical emergency, but there is often a dire lack of healthcare services for victims.
No statistics on sexual violence provide a complete picture of the problem or its prevalence. Shame, fear, stigmatisation and many other obstacles prevent an unknown number of victims from receiving, or even seeking, treatment. And yet getting immediate medical care after sexual assault is critical in order to limit the potential consequences. In 2023, our teams treated over 62,200 victims of sexual violence; 22,300 more than the year before.
Quick facts about sexual violence
01Medical care is critical
Post-exposure prophylaxis is given to victims of rape within 72 hours to prevent HIV in case of exposure. Emergency contraception should also be given promptly to be most effective. Antibiotics are given to prevent sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis and gonorrhoea, and vaccinations for tetanus and hepatitis B. The treatment of physical injuries, and psychological support are also part of the package of care.
02Men are victims too
Sexual violence against men and boys includes rape, sexual torture and sexual slavery. Men and boys are even less likely to report sexual violence than women for fear of stigmatisation and because of the enormous taboo around the topic. As a result, sexual violence committed against men remains particularly invisible and under-reported, and how to adequately meet the needs of male victims poses a particular challenge for us.
03In war as in peace
Rape and other forms of sexual violence are often widespread in conflict settings, where they can be used to humiliate, punish, control, injure, inflict fear, and destroy communities. They may also be used to reward or remunerate combatants, to motivate the troops. But millions of people living in stable contexts are also affected by sexual violence. In these cases, the perpetrators are often acquaintances or family members of the victims.
04The challenges of care
Medical care is crucial in the 72 hours following rape to prevent the transmission of HIV and an unwanted pregnancy. Stigma, fear of the aggressor and of others finding out are some of the reasons victims may hesitate to seek care and often do not pursue follow-up care. The prevention and management of unwanted pregnancy is often their biggest concern, and is part of the care MSF provides. Emergency contraception is allowed in almost all countries; however, termination of pregnancy is – for a variety of reasons – more complicated.
More about sexual & gender-based violence
Project Update2 Sep 2015
Haiti
“Every single case we saw was complicated, and touching and difficult and emotional”
Voices from the Field2 Sep 2015
Mexico
Acapulco's population is exposed to violence on a daily basis
Voices from the Field29 Jul 2015
Women's health
Q&A on consequences of unsafe abortion
Voices from the Field14 Jul 2015
Democratic Republic of Congo
A new project for victims of violence in Boga
Project Update17 Jun 2015
Women's health
Women's Health: Because Tomorrow Needs Her
Campaign16 Jun 2015
Democratic Republic of Congo
MSF assists more than a hundred women who claimed being sexually abused
Press Release14 May 2015
Journal article
Care for victims of sexual violence, an organisation pushed to its limits: The case of MSF
10 Apr 2015
Journal article
Women's health
“Because Tomorrow Needs Her” Explores Multiple Health Challenges Affecting Women
Press Release6 Mar 2015
Research & Analysis
South Africa
Critical gaps in mental healthcare for survivors of sexual violence
Report17 Dec 2018
Rohingya refugee crisis
‘No one was left’ - Death and Violence Against the Rohingya
Report9 Mar 2018
Haiti
Against their will: New report on sexual violence
Report12 Jul 2017
South Africa
Sexual violence in platinum mining belt a major driver of HIV
Press Release20 Feb 2017
Papua New Guinea
Return to Abuser
Report1 Mar 2016
Journal article
Care for victims of sexual violence, an organisation pushed to its limits: The case of MSF
10 Apr 2015
Journal article
Journal article
Collecting data on sexual violence: what do we need to know? The case of MSF in the Democratic Republic of Congo
2 Feb 2014
Journal article
Sexual violence
MSF denounces the sexual violence against migrants travelling to Europe
Report25 Mar 2010
Related topics
Medical activities
Women's health
An estimated 99 per cent of women who die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications live in developing countries. Most of these deaths are preventable.
Crisis Settings
War and conflict
More than one third of our humanitarian and medical assistance is for people affected by armed conflict.
The Americas
Haiti
Political instability, an earthquake in August 2021, a fuel crisis and chronic violence have pushed the healthcare system in Haiti to its limits as needs are on the rise.
37,600
emergency room consultations
4,200
people treated for sexual violence
5,780
people treated for intentional physical violence
1,420
total deliveries assisted
Asia & Pacific
Papua New Guinea
We are working to improve access to care for survivors of violence in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands region.
7,680
outpatient consultations
680
people started on treatment for TB, including 51 for MDR-TB
Middle East & North Africa
Egypt
Egypt is a key transit and destination country for African and Middle Eastern refugees and migrants, many of whom have been subjected to violence or persecution in their countries.
14,300
outpatient consultations
7,050
individual mental health consultations
Africa
Democratic Republic of Congo
In DRC, MSF runs some of its largest medical relief operations, working in 17 of 26 provinces, responding to diseases outbreaks, conflict and displacement, and tackling health problems such as HIV/AIDs.
2,578,300
outpatient consultations
1,495,400
vaccinations against measles in response to an outbreak
779,800
malaria cases treated
29,000
people treated for sexual violence
14,100
surgical interventions
1,410
people with advanced HIV under direct MSF care
Medical Resource
MSF Field Research
We produce important research based on our field experience. So far, we have published articles in over 100 peer-reviewed journals. These articles have often changed clinical practice and have been used for humanitarian advocacy. All of these articles can be found on our dedicated Field Research website.
