Gender and Violence
Gender and Violence
Gender and Violence
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one in three women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence, and around 38% of murders of women are committed by intimate partners. Women and girls make up almost half of the world’s population, yet they are often targeted and abused without any justice for the violations committed against them. Gender-based violence and violence against women are two, closely-related human rights violations that block the progress for gender equality and equity, stressing the importance for the international community to give special attention to these prevalent issues. Gender-based violence (GBV) is defined by UN Women as harmful acts directed at an individual or a group of individuals based on their gender. Although men and boys are also targeted in GBV, the majority of the violence is against women and girls; therefore, this global security problem will revolve mostly around the violence committed against women. Also, even though there are many cases of GBV that occur during situations of conflict and instability, the majority of violence against women actually occurs within their own homes.
Violence against women is any act of GBV that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life (United Nations). It is considered as the most common but the least punished crime in the world. Violence against women can include, but is not limited to, any of the following: domestic violence (physical, psychological, economic, emotional), sexual violence, verbal violence, forced marriages, female genital mutilation, female infanticide, human trafficking, stalking, harassment, and more. In addition, violence against women can lead to great economic and social costs such as services to treat the victims, increased unemployment, and an overall loss of productivity and life.
In addition, members of LGBT+ community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other people who do not fit the heterosexual norm or traditional gender binary categories) also suffer from violence which is based on their factual or perceived sexual orientation, and/or gender identity. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 1612 transgender people were killed in 62 countries between 2008 and 2014. Finally, men can also be targeted with gender-based violence, though the number of such cases is smaller in comparison with women.
Domestic Violence / Initmate Partner Violence
Domestic violence, (also called intimate partner violence), is the most common type of gender-based violence. Domestic violence includes acts of physical, sexual, psychological, or economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit or between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence with the victim (Istanbul Convention). The victims tend to have trouble leaving these violent relationships because they are usually trapped either financially, psychologically, or emotionally. The victims feel helpless, worthless, powerless, and accepting of the status quo after numerous, repeated patterns of abuse, and they usually rely on the hope that their partner will stop the abuse eventually. In addition, although most cases of domestic violence are men abusing women, there are also cases of women abusing men and same-sex relationship abuse. Domestic violence often leads to severe physical and mental sufferings, injuries, and death, so it is crucial to act and reach out to those who experience any sign of domestic abuse.
Child and Forced Marriage
Child and forced marriage is a human rights violation that threatens the lives, well-being, and future of girls around the world. According to UNICEF, child marriage refers to any formal marriage or informal union between a child under the age of 18 and an adult or another child, and forced marriage is a marriage in which one and/or both parties have not personally expressed their full and free consent to the union (OHCHR). (Child marriage is considered a form of forced marriage, so the two terms are often related.) Although the prevelence of child marriage has decreased within the past years, more than 650 million of girls and women alive today were married as children, about 21% of the world’s population. Child marriage can also have implications for increased domestic violence, less education opportunites, high maternal morbidty and mortality rates, but overall, it prevents children from living a future that they wish to live.
Female Genital Mutilation
Female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genetalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical purposes (UNICEF). FGM is considered as a violation of a women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, and these violations are often due to deeply engrained beliefs and societal values pertaining to a women’s sexuality (OHCHR). FGM is a cultural practice that is typically used as a safeguard to a girl’s chastity, a prerequisite for marriage, or as a rite of passage; however, the practice can lead to numerous health complications and even death. At least 200 million girls and women in 31 countries have had FGM performed on them, and the numbers are expected to rise over the next decade due to COVID-19 (UNICEF). Thus, it is important to support policies and laws that will put an end to the practice and protect the basic sexual and reproductive health rights of these victimized women and girls.
Female Infanticide
Female infanticide is defined as the deliberate killing of newborn children, and it is a cultural practice that has been deeply rooted in some cultures. The term “femicide” is sometimes also used, but that is more commonly used to describe the intentional murder of women simply because they are women. Female infanticide occurs mostly due to economic reasons, governmental policies (The One Child Policy), poverty and population restrictions, etc. In some cultures, a male baby is considered to have a greater income potential because they are believed to be able to do more work than a woman could do; therefore, female babies are seen as financial burdens and a waste of family resources. In addition, honor crimes are the killings of a family member, usually a male member against a female member, for the purported reason that the member has brought dishonor or shame upon the family (UN Women). Although female infanticide and honor killings may be part of a country’s culture, they are still unlawful violations of basic human rights and should to be resolved peacefully in order to create a better future for women and female babies around the world.
Gender-based Violence during times of conflict
Wars throughout history have been seen to result in high levels of GBV against women and girls, such as killings, tortures, sexual violence, and forced marriages. Sexual violence, particularly rape of women, was commonly used as a tactic of war, and there are various theories for why some soldier groups have chosen to use this war tactic. Dara Kay Cohen, a well-renowned professor of public policy, examined and compiled her findings on the correlations between rape and civil wars in her book: Rape During Civil War. Her extensive research concluded that these acts of sexual violence were used to bring together and bond soldiers in a phenomenon called “combatant socialization.” Many armed groups were forced into service to fight alongside people that they didn’t trust and were unfamiliar with; therefore, gang rape and other forms of sexual violence became popular methods to build common identity within these armed groups and to feel stronger in their masculinities. In addition, most of these men were easily able to get away with these crimes during the midst of the war, and there was also a wide breakdown of societal norms and taboos against GBV.
Organizations Addressing Issues of Gender and Violence
The World Health Organization (WHO)
The World Health Organization (WHO) works with 194 Member States, across six regions, and from more than 150 offices in order to achieve better health for everyone. Violence against women happens to be a major public and clinical health problem that violates human rights, so WHO plays a big role in bringing attention to and responding to violence against women. Their health topic page contains overview information, fact sheets, data, WHO response, publications, multimedia, and much more.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, (UNHCR), is the UN refugee agency that works to provide better futures for refugees, internationally displaced communities, and stateless people; however, the UNHCR also offers protection to refugees and other persons of concern who are affected by GBV. The UNHCR works with numerous partners, governments, and communities to certify that their objectives to 1) reduce the risk of GBV for all persons of concern and 2) ensure all survivors of GBV have access to quality services are carried out. Their page on GBV contains overview information on the issue, UNHCR policies and strategies, publications, networks and knowledge hubs, and further resources.
The World Bank Group
The World Bank Group is a global organization that has established goals to end extreme poverty within the next generation, to push countries to create better living standards for all citizens, and to promote a global “shared prosperity.” GBV has significant implications for social and economic costs with some countries spending about 3.7% of their GDP on violence against women. Therefore, the World Bank is committed to addressing GBV through investment, research and learning, and collaboration with stakeholders.
The Women and Public Policy Program of Harvard Kennedy School (WAPPP)
The Women and Public Policy Program of Harvard Kennedy School (WAPPP) advances women and gender equity in economic opportunity, political participation, and education by creating knowledge, training leaders, and informing public policy and organizational practices. Their main mission is to equip leaders and changemakers with evidence-based strategies to advance women and gender equity. The WAPPP website offers tabs on more information regarding their organization, research insights, news and events, teaching and training, and more.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the UN sexual and reproductive health agency. The UNFPA’s mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA also works to fight GBV by providing information, data, publications, selected videos, and more resources on GBV.
UN Women
UN Women is the global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential. UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality, and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes, and services needed to ensure that the standards are implemented and benefit all women worldwide. Their website offers a digital library, news and events, partnerships, and further information on what they do, where they work, and how they work.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to reach the most disadvantaged children and adolescents and to protect the rights of children, everywhere. Adolescent girls face the greatest risk of GBV; therefore, UNICEF works worldwide to prevent and respond to GBV in emergencies. Their humanitarian action page on GBV contains UNICEF’s response, a global overview of UNICEF GBViE portfolio, reach of the programmes, risk mitigation, inter-agency leadership, tech and innovation, and more resources.
The Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organization that includes 47 member states, working to protect all human rights. Their Gender Matters website contains accessible non-formal education methods for preventing and addressing gender-based violence with young people. Their website includes a menu addressing the issues of gender, gender-based violence and human rights instruments, a set of activities, and more resources.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an independent and neutral organization that operates worldwide, helping people affected by conflict and armed violence and promoting the laws that protect victims of war. ICRC address sexual violence and violence against women by stepping up its efforts to prevent the crimes and help the victims. The ICRC’s topic page on sexual violence and violence against women includes descriptions on the issue, special reports, inclusive progamming during COVID-19, and numerous articles, photos, and videos.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the leading UN entity on human rights, which seeks to promote and protect all human rights, help empower people, assist governments, and inject a human rights perspective into all UN programmes. The OHCHR works with and assists governments in fulfilling their human rights obligations, speaks out against human rights violations worldwide, develops a forum of today’s human rights challenges, works with a wide range of partners, and much more. Their page on Women’s Human Rights and Gender Equality contains OHCHR’s work on gender equality, numerous issues in focus, and other organizations involved.
The Gender-Based Violence Area of Responsibility (GBVAoR)
The Gender-Based Violence Area of Responsibility (GBVAoR) works collectively to improve the effectiveness and accountability of humanitarian response for the prevention, risk mitigation, and response to all forms of gender-based violence, to ensure that the agency and capacity of survivors is recognized and reinforced, and to effectively employ primary prevention efforts in order to address underlying gender inequality. The GBV AoR coordinates and provides global level interagency policy advice and guidance on GBV responses. Their website offers tools and resources, news and events, minimum standards, key documents, and more.
The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace, and Security
The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security is a consensus-based coalition of 19 international NGOs working to advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda at the United Nations and around the world. The organization partners with women human rights defenders, peacebuilders and civil society leaders from conflict affected countries to advocate for the full and equal participation of women in all efforts to create and maintain international peace and security, as well as for the respect of women’s human rights. Their website contains their work, a range of thematic issues, publications, news and updates, and more.
CARE
CARE is a nonprofit organization that works around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty, achieve social justice, and fight for women and girls. CARE believes that everyone deserves a life free from violence; therefore, they have created a health topic page for GBV. Their topic page includes highlighted programs that fight against GBV and CARE’s prevention, risk mitigation, response, and advocacy.
