We believe it is vital to educate everybody about how GBV - the different types , how they can present in society, so you know what to look out for.
The 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence was started in 1991 by activists at the launch of the Women’s Global Leadership Institute. It kicks off on 25th November, finishing up on Human Rights Day, 10th December every year. During this time, organisations around the world call for the elimination of violence against women and girls. In 2008, the UN launched their UNITE campaign which runs alongside the 16 Days of Activism, to focus on a particular theme each year.
This year’s theme was UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls – calling on governments across the globe to publicise how they are investing in GBV prevention. We’re going to explain what the types of gender-based violence are and how to spot them, arming as many people as possible with the knowledge they may use to intervene before it’s too late.
What is gender-based violence?
GBV, or violence against women and girls, is one of the most prevalent human rights violations worldwide, the UN states that one in three women experience physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. We believe it is vital to educate everybody about how GBV can present in society, so you know what to look out for:
Intimate Partner Violence
This is a form of domestic violence, and one of the most common forms of all violence against women worldwide. It can include physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse and controlling behaviour by a current or former intimate partner. On average, two women are killed by a current or former partner every week in England and Wales.
Sexual Violence
The term sexual violence encompasses all and any unwanted or harmful sexual behaviour. How this manifests can be varied and complex, we’ve included a brief summary:
Sexual harassment: ‘catcalling’, sharing sexual jokes or information, unwanted touching, repeatedly asking for dates or sex, unwanted sexual comments about your appearance
Sexual assault: any sexual act without consent including kissing, intimate touching, ‘flashing’, forcing a woman to perform sexual acts on herself or the perpetrator
Rape: defined as non-consensual vaginal, anal or oral penetration. This may be done through coercion, fear or physical violence, by any person including the victim’s spouse
Economic Abuse
This is a legally recognised form of domestic violence which often takes place in the context of intimate partner violence. It occurs when someone controls, exploits, or limits another person's access to financial resources, which can lead to dependence, isolation, and an inability to leave an abusive situation. It involves behaviors like withholding money, preventing someone from working or accessing employment opportunities, or controlling all financial decisions. 1 in 6 women in the UK has experienced economic abuse by a current or former partner.
Femicide
Men’s violence against women is a dominant cause of premature death for women worldwide. 53% of the perpetrators of femicide in 2020 were found to have a history of violence against women, and almost half of all women killed by current or former partners were in the process of leaving the relationship.
Human trafficking
Women are the primary targets for trafficking, and girls are predominantly trafficked for sexual exploitation. Women and girls account for 99% of victims within the commercial sex industry.
Female genital mutilation (FGM)
This horrifying act is most often inflicted on young girls between infancy and age 15, including any procedure involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to female genital organs for non-medical purposes.
Child or forced marriage
Child marriage: where at least one of the parties is under 18
Forced marriage: where at least one or both parties have not consented to the union
Online/tech-enabled abuse
Digital abuse is becoming more insidious and intelligent with the use of AI tools enabling things like deepfake videos (putting a victim’s face on the body of someone else engaging in a sexual act or similar). Tech abuse can also include GPS tracking to control or monitor a woman’s movements.
What can we do?
Understanding gender-based violence is the first step towards rebuilding a society in which women and girls are safe from abuse. At Bertha’s Legacy, we work hard to empower women who have experienced the types of violence we’ve talked about here, but we need your support. Please help us continue to offer women a safe space, and skills to rebuild their lives after suffering GBV by donating here.
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