The report has been written by an independent taskforce made up of health professionals and representatives of women's organisations to help the NHS provide improved health care for women and children who are victims of violence.
It sets out a series of recommendations stressing the need for increased awareness, training and education for NHS staff so that they can apply the same rigorous, systematic approach to the issue that has been applied to other areas of NHS work such as diabetes and stroke.
The Department will raise awareness of the roles and responsibilities of NHS staff in treating victims of violence and calls for increased vigilance of the variety of health issues that may be as a result of sexual violence against women and children, domestic violence and harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.
An implementation group has been established to take forward the recommendations and a copy of the full report can be downloaded from the Department of Health website.