Understanding Gender-Based Violence and Its Global Impact

Gender-based violence is one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world today. It affects millions of people across every country, culture, and economic background. Understanding what gender-based violence is, why it happens, and how it manifests globally is essential to creating a world where everyone can live with dignity and safety.

What is gender-based violence? 🔗

Gender-based violence refers to harmful acts directed at individuals based on their gender. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), it is rooted in gender inequality, the abuse of power, and harmful norms. While anyone can experience gender-based violence, women and girls are disproportionately affected due to systemic gender inequalities that exist worldwide.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines violence against women as any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women. This includes threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.

Forms of gender-based violence 🔗

Gender-based violence takes many forms. Physical violence includes acts like hitting, kicking, or any form of bodily harm. Sexual violence encompasses rape, sexual assault, forced prostitution, and any sexual act performed without consent. Psychological violence involves emotional abuse, threats, intimidation, and controlling behaviors that harm a person’s mental well-being.

Beyond these direct forms, gender-based violence also includes harmful practices such as child marriage, female genital mutilation, dowry-related violence, and honor crimes. In recent years, technology-facilitated gender-based violence has emerged as a growing threat, with women and girls facing online harassment, stalking, image-based abuse, and digital control by perpetrators.

The staggering scale of the problem 🔗

The numbers reveal a crisis of enormous proportions. Nearly one in three women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. This translates to approximately 736 million women and girls who have been subjected to intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both.

Violence often begins early. Among adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 who have been in relationships, almost one in four have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner. Every 10 minutes, a woman or girl is killed by an intimate partner or family member, highlighting the deadly consequences of gender-based violence.

Gender-based violence in India 🔗

In India, gender-based violence remains a persistent challenge. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the rate of crimes against women increased by 12.9% between 2018 and 2022. In 2022, the reported crime rate stood at 66.4 per 100,000 women, up from 58.8 in 2018.

The statistics reveal concerning patterns. Cruelty by husbands or relatives accounts for 31.4% of reported crimes, followed by kidnapping and abduction at 19.2%, assault with intent to outrage modesty at 18.7%, and rape at 7.1%. States like Delhi, Haryana, and Telangana recorded crime rates significantly higher than the national average.

However, these figures likely represent only a fraction of the actual violence occurring. The National Family Health Survey indicates that nearly one in three women in India face spousal violence, suggesting widespread underreporting due to social stigma, fear of reprisal, and inadequate conviction rates.

Why does gender-based violence happen? 🔗

Gender-based violence is not random or inevitable. It has clear root causes embedded in social structures and cultural beliefs.

Patriarchy and power imbalances 🔗

At the heart of gender-based violence lies patriarchy, a social system in which men hold primary power and women are positioned as subordinate. Patriarchal views legitimize violence to ensure male dominance and superiority over women and other marginalized genders.

This power imbalance manifests in multiple ways. Gender stereotypes dictate what behaviors are acceptable for women and men, creating rigid expectations. When women challenge these norms or fail to meet patriarchal expectations, violence is often used as a means of control and punishment. Religious and historical traditions have reinforced these dynamics by sanctioning the physical punishment of women under notions of male entitlement and ownership.

Gender inequality as the foundation 🔗

Research consistently shows that gender inequality is the main structural driver of gender-based violence. Discrimination in education, employment, and political representation creates environments where women have fewer resources, less autonomy, and limited power to protect themselves.

Women’s economic dependence on men, resulting from unequal access to employment and property rights, further increases vulnerability to violence. When women lack financial independence, leaving abusive situations becomes exponentially more difficult.

Harmful social norms 🔗

Cultural factors play a significant role in perpetuating gender-based violence. Many societies maintain beliefs that normalize violence as an acceptable way to resolve conflicts or assert authority. Research in multiple countries reveals that both women and men often believe violence is justified when women fail to fulfill perceived responsibilities or transgress social norms.

The understanding of the family sphere as private and under male authority allows violence to continue unchecked. Victims face shame and stigma when reporting abuse, while perpetrators often enjoy impunity. This culture of silence, supported by inadequate legal enforcement and victim-blaming attitudes, enables violence to persist across generations.

The devastating impact of gender-based violence 🔗

The consequences of gender-based violence extend far beyond the immediate act of violence itself.

Physical and health consequences 🔗

Survivors face numerous health impacts. Injuries, unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, and gynecological disorders are common physical outcomes. Survivors of intimate partner violence have a twofold increased risk of induced abortion and are 50% more likely to contract sexually transmitted infections or HIV.

Mental and psychological trauma 🔗

The psychological toll is equally severe. Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and self-harm affect many survivors. The trauma can persist for years, affecting their ability to work, maintain relationships, and participate fully in society. Children who grow up witnessing violence suffer behavioral and emotional disturbances that can lead to mental health issues and perpetuate cycles of violence across generations.

Social and economic costs 🔗

Gender-based violence carries enormous social and economic costs. It curbs women’s contributions to development, peace, and progress. Fear of violence restricts women’s mobility and participation in public life. Communities lose the full potential of half their population when women and girls cannot live free from violence.

Global and local contexts of gender-based violence 🔗

While gender-based violence is universal, its manifestations vary across contexts. In humanitarian emergencies and displacement situations, UNHCR reports that risks of sexual violence, trafficking, and forced prostitution increase dramatically as protective mechanisms break down.

Technology has created new frontiers for violence. Data shows that 59.9% of women with internet access have experienced some form of technology-facilitated violence. For girls aged 13 to 24, the figure rises to 75%, with many facing harmful content daily.

In India, the intersection of caste and gender creates additional vulnerabilities. Between 2014 and 2022, there was an 89.9% increase in rape cases against Dalit women and girls, highlighting how marginalized identities compound exposure to violence.

Moving toward solutions 🔗

Addressing gender-based violence requires comprehensive efforts at multiple levels. Prevention programs must challenge harmful gender norms and promote equality. Health systems need to provide survivor-centered care that respects confidentiality and dignity. Legal frameworks must be strengthened and enforced to ensure accountability for perpetrators.

Education plays a crucial role. Comprehensive sexuality education helps young people develop equitable attitudes and healthy relationship skills. Engaging men and boys in challenging rigid masculinity norms is essential for long-term change.

Organizations like UNFPA work in over 150 countries to respond to and prevent gender-based violence through partnerships with governments, civil society, and communities. These efforts span humanitarian, development, and peace-building contexts, recognizing that gender-based violence requires sustained, coordinated action.

What do you think? How can communities work together to challenge the patriarchal norms that fuel gender-based violence? What role can education and awareness play in creating a world where everyone can live free from violence?

References

1. https://www.unfpa.org/gender-based-violence
2. https://www.who.int/health-topics/violence-against-women
3. https://www.unfpa.org/tfgbv
4. https://sprf.in/crimes-against-women-in-india-trends-challenges-and-policy-responses/
5. https://www.coe.int/en/web/gender-matters/what-causes-gender-based-violence
6. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-08825-z
7. https://www.oxfam.org/en/ten-harmful-beliefs-perpetuate-violence-against-women-and-girls
8. https://www.unhcr.org/what-we-do/protect-human-rights/protection/gender-based-violence