Gender Based Violence

Gender based violence (GBV) is one of the many forms of harassment affecting women today. Gender violence involves violence against a certain group of people in relation to their gender. While violence affects all people, there are groups more at risk of experiencing violence because of various forms of oppression. 

 

This type of violence is often associated to sexual assault/abuse and occurs in a long-term dynamic. Statistics show that women are one of the most targeted groups involved with GBV. The 2022 police reported hate crimes shows that when hate crimes are motivated by factors like sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, or religion, most of the victims tend to be men or boys. However, when the hate crime is motivated by sex or gender, the majority 73% of the victims are women or girls. 

 

GBV is extremely harmful to the wellbeing of women and girls. It is likely to have a lasting mental impact such as anxiety, PTSD, depression etc. Sexual violence has the ability to cause physical, partial or permanent disability, poor nutrition, unexpected pregnancy, sex related illnesses and much more. It puts them at high risk of serious physical injuries, leading to high social and economic costs for women, families and societies.This physical and mental trauma hinders their body’s ability to function, often leading to further isolation and hardships. The effects of harassment depend on a variety of factors; however, research shows that the sexualized nature of this issue adds a particularly traumatic experience for the victim.

 

Women are afraid to speak up: The Department of Justice states that only 310 out of every 1,000 sexual assaults are actually reported to police. Instead, women and girls have to suffer in silence, unable to break free out of the situation they are put under. Their lack of societal power creates an imbalance that makes many feel vulnerable and isolated. It remains an urgent issue that disproportionately affects women, reflecting deep-rooted gender inequalities. The longer that this issue continues to persist, the more we need to act upon it as a collective. Without societal shifts in attitudes, and adequate support for survivors, GBV will continue to thrive and affect women and girls globally.