The gender-based violence is any violent act committed against a person on the basis of their gender. The official definition by the UN is
“Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.”
While GBV can occur against men, it more commonly affects women and children. In fact, estimates show that 1 in 3 women will experience violence—particularly intimate partner violence (IPV)—at some point in their lives. Gender-based violence takes many forms and can happen anywhere to anyone; however, GBV is more common in areas of civil unrest, food insecurity, socio-economic crisis, and other quality-of-life stressors or emergencies.
What Are Examples of Gender-Based Violence?
Gender-based violence can look different in each case. The European Commission separates GBV into three categories:
- Physical: Bodily harm against a person that results in injuries, health complications, or even death. Some examples of physical GBV include beating, hitting, punching, strangling, and the use of weapons. Physical GBV is very common in domestic violence cases.
- Sexual: Any sexual act done against a person without their consent. This can range from sexual harassment to rape. Another form of sexual GBV we’re fighting in Uganda is female genital mutilation (FGM). It’s estimated that over 26% of women and young girls in Ugandan regions where FGM is common have suffered female genital mutilation—a practice that can cause lifelong pain and life-threatening complications during pregnancy and delivery.
- Psychological: Behaviors and actions that make a person feel unsafe and cause psychological harm or suffering. Some examples of this are strict control of the woman’s actions and behaviors, coercion, blackmail, monetary control, forced marriage, and threats. The EU found that these behaviors were most prevalent in intimate partner violence.
Human trafficking of women and children involves all three forms of GBV. This is why we cannot hope to end GBV without addressing and fighting against human trafficking.
What Are the Effects of GBV?
The effects of gender-based violence are often felt throughout a community and can be devastating. They can include:
- Decreased mental health and well-being
- Health complications such as diseases and STIs
- Potentially debilitating physical injuries and/or scarring
- Unwanted pregnancies
- Feeling trapped in a cycle of abuse
- Forced dependency on abusers, especially with monetary or behavioral control
- Death
In a community where GBV is prominent, the cycle of abuse can spiral for women and girls. Gender inequality increases, and stigmas against women worsen and contribute to the violence against them. Young girls may have to halt their education because of an unexpected pregnancy or forced marriage, furthering the prevalence of poverty and making them more susceptible to human trafficking or domestic abuse. Left unchecked, the effects of GBV can impact a community for years, if not decades.
Fight Gender-Based Violence
Is GBV Prominent in Uganda?
Unfortunately, gender-based violence is a widespread, continuing issue for the women and children of Uganda. A 2020 study found that 95% of Ugandan women have experienced physical or sexual violence. Fortunately, this study spurred policy change, and several bills—including ones that would end child and forced marriage—have been proposed and implemented since to reduce this percentage. The fight to end GBV in Uganda is far from over, but we are seeing steps in the right direction from the government, communities, and charity organizations.
