What is gender-based violence?
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a dark reality in all countries and all economic and social groups. It disproportionately impacts women and girls and has short- and long-term effects on survivors’ health, dignity and security. Violence against girls and women can take place anywhere, including at home, at school, within communities, in public institutions and at work.
There are many types of gender-based violence:
- rape and attempted rape
- sexual abuse
- sexual exploitation
- child, early or forced marriage
- domestic violence
- trafficking
- female genital mutilation
- early and forced pregnancy
- emotional
- economic
The impact of COVID-19 on GBV
For girls and women, especially those living in low-income countries, the pandemic has exacerbated already existing gender inequalities and increased the incidence of GBV. This secondary impact of the pandemic will have long-lasting and devastating consequences for many years to come:
- Globally, 243 million women and girls aged 15 to 49 have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by an intimate partner in the past 12 months.
- Between 2020 and 2030, an estimated additional 13 million child marriages could take place due to COVID-19.
- Because of the pandemic, an estimated 4.1 million girls were at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation in 2020.
The different forms of gender-based violence
Sexual violence
Sexual violence includes pressuring or forcing someone to perform sexual acts (from kissing to sex) against their will or making sexual comments that make someone feel humiliated or uncomfortable. It does not matter if the person has previously consented to sexual behaviour – consent must be given at the time of the act.
Physical violence
Physical violence is the use of physical force, such as hitting, slapping, kicking, burning, pushing, etc.
Emotional or psychological violence
Emotional or psychological violence is often the most difficult form of violence to identify. It may include humiliating, threatening, insulting and pressuring as well as expressions of jealousy or possessiveness, such as controlling someone’s decisions and activities. It can also include restricting someone’s movements. This form of violence can be verbal or non-verbal.
Economic violence
Economic violence is when someone else exercises complete control over a person’s money and other economic resources. This type of violence is a way of exerting power and can be used to control someone’s movements, by keeping them from meeting with friends, for example.
Each year, approximately 12 million girls under 18 will be married.
In the 12 months preceding the start of COVID-19, 243 million women and girls (aged 15-49) across the world had been subjected to sexual or physical violence by an intimate partner.
An estimated 200 million women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM).
Why gender-based violence happens
- Unequal power relations: Gender-based violence is inflicted by abusers who believe that their sex or gender entitles them to use (or threaten to use) force or power over someone else with the intent to cause them harm or control their behaviour.
- Low social status and value of women and girls (and people who do not conform to the gender binary).
- Gender stereotypes and norms that justify violence.
- Because it is often condoned by governments or considered “normal”.
What Plan International is doing to address gender-based violence
Gender-based violence happens when there is an unequal power relationship between girls or women and boys or men. Plan International runs programs that help equalize the power in relationships so that everyone is valued equally and can reach their full potential.
Here is what Plan International is doing to boost the social position of girls and women and reduce gender-based violence:
Advocating with lawmakers and community partners to promote gender equality and challenge gender-based violence such as child marriage and female genital mutilation.
Providing safe spaces where youth can openly discuss sensitive topics like self-esteem, sexuality and relationships. These discussions help develop positive attitudes toward gender equality
Developing opportunities for women to come together to talk about gender equality and tackle gender norms that lead to gender-based violence.
Facilitating discussions among men to address negative masculinity like gender-based violence and to reflect on gender equality.
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