Women who disclose any form of violence by an intimate partner (or other family member) or sexual assault by any perpetrator should be offered immediate support. Health-care providers should, as a minimum, offer firstline support when women disclose violence. First-line support includes:

• being non-judgemental and supportive and validating what the woman is saying
• providing practical care and support that responds to her concerns, but does not intrude
• asking about her history of violence, listening carefully, but not pressuring her to talk (care should be taken

when discussing sensitive topics when interpreters are involved)

• helping her access information about resources, including legal and other services that she might think helpful
• assisting her to increase safety for herself and her children, where needed
• providing or mobilizing social support.

Providers should ensure:

• that the consultation is conducted in private
• confidentiality, while informing women of the limits of confidentiality (e.g. when there is mandatory

reporting) f health-care providers are unable to provide firstline support, they should ensure that someone else (within their health-care setting or another that is easily accessible) is immediately available to do so