Gender based violence
Gender-based violence (GBV) or violence against women has been the biggest challenge to create a gender-equal world. Gender-based violence is extremely pervasive and exists and presents in many different forms like sexual harassment, rape, physical, emotional and psychological abuse, domestic violence etc. There are many social norms and customs which can be classified as GBV. For instance practices like female genital mutilation, dowry, child marriage or breast ironing also fall under gender-based violence against women and girls. The primary cause of gender-based violence is the unequal power structures in patriarchal societies. Toxic male masculinity, male aggression and toxic personality are typically endorsed by society. Whereas women are supposed to have a submissive personality who surrenders. Men are supposed to control and dominate women. These dynamics have created dynamics in the society that perpetuate GBV. Men often try to exert their dominance and control over women forcefully. Sexual and physical abuse is the biggest weapon that men have used against women when they needed to control them. In order to tackle gender-based violence, we must first address the gender inequalities that exist in society. Unless women are treated and valued equally to men, it's difficult to stop violence against women and girls. It's also very crucial to breaking the gender stereotypes that traditionally considers women as the weaker sex, and expect them to be dominated by the opposite sex. We should work with men and boys to sensitize them about masculinity. Masculinity does not mean having more power over women. Masculinity doesn't mean hurting women.
Major Drivers of Femicide, A Global Pandemic
Femicide is the systematic killing of women and girls because of their gender. The word “femicide” was first coined in the 1970s by Diana Russell, and is defined as “the killing of women because they are women.” This definition includes all forms of gender-based violence against women, including domestic violence, honor killings, acid attacks, and forced marriage. It is…
Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Spain: Consent is Key
Consent is key. While a purportedly obvious statement, on the other hand, the explicit nature of the phrase appears lost on certain people. For the purposes of this article, I refer to certain parties in the Spanish Judiciary. The Wolf Pack In 2016, an 18 year old woman was raped by five men in the…
Women and War: Abandoned Figures
What is the first thing we think about when we hear something about war? Most likely, thoughts about weapons, soldiers, explosions, blood, and death pop into our heads. War is a ‘traditionally’ male occupation. Men defend their own lands or attack others. They protect their families, mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters. They might fight for…
November 25th: Turkish Women’s Blood Flows, Resistance Spreads
On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, a taste of struggle and a taste of equality is imprinted on every screaming lip! We are in Kizilay, in the hyper center of Ankara, Turkey. Women of all ages are singing to the rhythm of the violations of their rights. They screech in the…
16 Days of 365 days? Let’s Talk about Economic Violence
Every year from 25 November to 10 December the world commemorates 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. For the last 15 days, the world is buzzing with webinars, Twitter chats, TikTok challenges, Instagram reels, talking against all forms of violence perpetrated against girls and women. Does this make me happy? Yes! Is…
The future of Afghan women after the Taliban
Though the Taliban have publicly announced that women will still have rights, however, they did not clarify what rights mean in their context. Life for women living even in a western and developed country like the UK is not always easy just because they are women. This is not to say men don’t face…
Alternative Forms of Justice for Victim-Survivors of Sexual Violence
Seeking justice after experiencing sexual violence can be a complex process for victim-survivors. For many, seeking conventional justice (through a criminal justice system) can provide a strong sense of reclaimed physical space in their lives. However, for some this may not be the right decision. Indeed, for many victim-survivors around the world, turning towards a justice…
Turkey Withdraws From the Istanbul Convention Putting Women’s Rights At Great Risk
On the 20th of March 2021, Turkey announced its withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. Sparking international outrage, the withdrawal acts as a disappointing setback to the progress of gender equality. Putting Turkish women’s rights in a precarious position, the Turkish government has demonstrated its lack of dedication to ending violence against women and domestic violence. This…
Empowering Survivors Of Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse or violence is a pattern of threatening behavior, violence or abuse (psychological, stalking, physical, harassment, online or digital abuse, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality. Domestic violence can be a single act or a pattern of controlling and toxic…
Widowhood Practices In Nigeria And Abuse Of Women’s Right
In many cultures, widowhood in women is considered a stigma, and widows as inauspicious. Various tribes and cultures in Nigeria have diverse ways of practicing rites pertaining to burial, but traditions are particularly hard on women. Culturally widowhood burial rites involve varying degrees of physical hardship, deprivation, ritual contamination, emotional instability, and socioeconomic and psychological trauma.…
