Citation

Alison Phinney, Hovre S. Health Hum. Rights 2003; 6(2): 64-87.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Harvard School of Public Health, François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights)

DOI

10.2307/4065430

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Interpersonal violence accounts for a significant portion of the global burden of disease and imposes substantial direct and indirect costs on society. This article reviews a public health approach to the problem, describing the health dimensions of interpersonal violence and strategies for intervention, and then looks at human rights approaches to the problem, focusing on specific examples of violence against women and child abuse. The discussion shows that public health and human rights approaches to interpersonal violence are complementary and can operate in tandem with shared goals and strategies. Deliberate integration of the two approaches could facilitate a more comprehensive and sustainable response to interpersonal violence.