Mission statement

Introduction

In various parts of the world, many women suffer from disfiguring and socially excluding injuries and trauma that are often inflicted on them by others as a result of their ethnic background, social traditions or typical environmental conditions surrounding them.

Background

Often, female victims of physical abuse (however inflicted) may not visit medical facilities for treatment, due in part to local traditions and social structures they may feel bound by, as well as concerns about cost, and the lack of availability of high quality, safe and effective treatment locally. Surgical procedures, treatments and therapy often require an extensive commitment, both on behalf of the medical professional and the patient, and in terms of cost, which means that such a service cannot easily be provided everywhere.

The objective of the Women for Women programme is for patients to be treated in their local communities by international women plastic surgeons using local medical facilities, in cooperation with local medical professionals, and with the cooperation and support of national plastic surgical societies, or specific plastic surgery bodies, if they exist.