Gender-based violence is a menace surrounded by too many myths and misinformation. And despite continuous advocacies, it continues to manifest in a variety of ways; physical violence including assault or slavery; emotional or psychological violence including verbal abuse or confinement; s3xual abuse, including rape and harmful practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation; socio-economic violence which includes denial of resources and s3xual harassment, exploitation and abuse.
And contrary to belief, gender-based violence can happen to anyone irrespective of status, tribe or religious affiliation though it disproportionately affects women and girls. More vulnerable are females in crisis situations and those from diverse and marginalised communities; women and girls living with disabilities, young and adolescent girls, older women, women of ethnic minorities, refugees and migrants among others.
Gender inequality and the norms and beliefs that violence against women and girls is acceptable are some of the main causes of gender-based violence. Also, unfounded cultural beliefs, religious doctrines and societal expectations of gender roles increase the risk of GBV.
Factors that aid increase in GBV cases include poverty as research states that when families are pushed into poverty, harmful practices like child marriages increase and young girls may be pulled out of education for marriage, to help with domestic tasks or to generate an income.
Other factors such as lack of economic capabilities, collapse of community structure and the rule of law which leaves women without social support and protection systems in violent situations result in women and girls traveling great distances in search of food, water or fuel, further increasing the risk of s3xual harassment and assault.
Displacement as a result of conflict and war and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) as well as child maltreatment and abuse are the most common form of violence women experience in humanitarian settings.
Violence has long-lasting effect ranging from physical harm to long-term emotional distress to fatalities on survivors and their families. Rape and s3xual assault can result in unwanted pregnancies, complications during pregnancy and birth as well as sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
Advocates say there is a clear need to scale up efforts across a range of sectors, both for violence prevention and to provide necessary services for women experiencing violence as social and economic fallout from GBV can lead to a loss of livelihood and increased gender inequalities in the long term.
The right to an effective remedy by a competent national tribunal for acts violating the fundamental rights granted to him by the Constitution or by law is for everyone. Article 8 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) enshrines the right of every victim of human rights abuse to an effective remedy for the harm done to them, and as such it creates a requirement for states to ensure that victims are able to access the justice system to seek redress.
Access to justice is fundamental to the protection of women’s rights and makes the realization of all other rights for women and girls possible, including the right to live free from discrimination and inequality.
The Violence Against Persons’ Prohibition (VAPP) Act, 2015, is the most effective weapon available to get justice for victims of GBV. VAPP Act is acclaimed as a comprehensive, timely and effective tool that is compliant with international human rights standards and the rule of law.
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