Medical personnel need specific knowledge and a special sensitivity if they are working with women who are victims of violence and often traumatised by their experience. For this reason, all our projects include female doctors, midwives and nurses who receive prior training in the issues of violence against women, traumatisation and psychosomatics. The demands on the specialist personnel working in the crisis areas are wide-ranging. They are often the first point of contact for women and girls who have been raped, so they require more than just medical knowledge - they need psychosocial skills and a great flexibility in order to understand the personal situation of each affected woman. Our main aim is to ensure respect and a sympathetic approach towards the women so they don’t suffer another traumatic or violent experience. The doctors, midwives and nurses have to build up trust and create an environment in which the women can open up and speak about the violence they were subjected to. Only then is it possible to arrange further assistance for them, such as psychosocial counselling or legal advice.