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GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

DR. PRIYANKA DEVGUN
PROF AND HEAD,
DEPTT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE
SGRDIMSAR 09/03/2014 at pingalwara manawala
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It registers when an enemy hurts you,
It pains when a friend hurts you,
But it devastates when the one inflicting the pain
is a loved one !
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Defining Sex and Gender
Sex
refers to the biological differences
between men and women. They are
generally permanent and universal.

Gender
refers to the norms, roles and social
relations between men and women. It is
socially constructed. Gender roles can be
changed.
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GBV and VAW
Gender Based Violence
Violence against women and girls includes
physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse. It
is often known as "gender-based" violence because it
evolves in part from women's subordinate status in
society. (UNDA 2001)
Violence against women
Any act of gender-based violence that results in,
or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or
psychological harm or suffering to women, including
threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation
of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life".
(UN 1993)

(United Nations, 1993)



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Violence against women includes:
Partner abuse
Sexual abuse, rape, including marital rape
Dowry related violence
Female genital mutilation
Trafficking and forced prostitution
Sexual harassment at the workplace
Violence condoned or carried out by the state (i.e. rape
in war)
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BURDEN OF THE PROBLEM
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How common is physical or sexual violence
in womens lives? (WHO study)
0
20
40
60
80
100
p
e
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e
Prevalence of physical or sexual violence against women by
anyone (partners and others), since age 15 years
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Recent global prevalence figures
indicate

35% of women have experienced
either intimate partner violence or non-
partner sexual violence in their lifetime.
30% of women -15% (Japan) to 71%
(Ethiopia) in a relationship have
experienced some form of physical or
sexual violence by their partner.
38% of murders of women are
committed by an intimate partner.
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Pregnancy is not necessarily a protected
time

He hit me in the belly
and made me miscarry
two babies - identical or
fraternal twins, I dont
know. I went to the
hospital with heavy
bleeding and they
cleaned me up

Woman interviewed in
Peru

4%-12% of women
were beaten during
a pregnancy
Between 1/4 to 1/2
of these women
reported being
punched or kicked
in the stomach
In almost 100% of
cases, the abuser
was the father of
the unborn
child(Source:WHO
study, 2005)

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Indian scenario
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Spousal Violence
37
35
10
16
27
24
21
7
11
40
Physical,
sexual, or
emotional
violence
Physical or
sexual violence
Physical
violence
Sexual violence Emotional
violence
Ever
In the past 12 months
Percent of ever-married women age 15-49
Only 1% of married women
have ever initiated violence
against their husbands.
Source: DHS 2005-06
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Marital duration at which spousal
violence first occured
87% of spousal
violence initiated
within 5 years of
marriage
0
37 35
32
7
13
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Marriage <1 year Within 2
years
Within 5
years
Within 10
years
More than
10 years
Not experienced violence
Experienced violence
87% of spousal
violence initiated
within 5 years of
marriage
Percent
0
37 35
32
7
13
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Marriage <1 year Within 2
years
Within 5
years
Within 10
years
More than
10 years
Not experienced violence
Experienced violence
87% of spousal
violence initiated
within 5 years of
marriage
India 2005-06
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VAW.WHY??
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VAW is a product of gender
subordination
:
norms of male ownership of women
male control of wealth in the family
male control of decision making
notions of masculinity tied to male
dominance/honor

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Violent behavior is learnt behavior

learnt through
Personal experience
Observation in family, friends, communities, etc.
Culture

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GBV aggravated, but not caused by
Illness, heredity, alcohol and drugs, lack of
self-control, economic problems,
anger/stress, the victims behavior or
problems in the relationship
Boys growing up in families where father is
violent are three times more likely to become
perpetrators of partner violence in their adulthood
(study in Serbia 2003).



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GBV SUPPORTIVE ATTITUDES
AND BEHAVIORS..
(pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors )


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Violence Supportive Attitudes
Justify
Excuse
Trivialize
Deny
Blame the victim

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Types Of Abusive Behaviors
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Psychological abuse
Use of economics
Use of children to control an adult victim
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Physical abuse
Slapping, Shaking, Beating with
fist or object, Strangulation, Burning,
Kicking, Threats with knife or gun

Sexual abuse
through threats or intimidation,
through physical force, forcing
unwanted sexual acts, forcing sex in
front of others, forcing sex with others


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Psychological abuse
Isolation from others, Excessive
jealousy, Control her activities, Verbal
aggression, Intimidation through
destruction of property, Harassment or
stalking ,Threats of violence, Constant
belittling and humiliation
Economic abuse
With-holding funds, Spending
family funds, Making most financial
decisions, Not contributing financially to
the family, Controlling the victims
access to health care, employment, etc.


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Using children to control an
adult victim

Physical and sexual abuse of children
Using children to monitor the adult
victim
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GBV. CONSEQUENCES
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Health Consequences of Abuse
Fatal Outcomes
homicide
suicide
maternal deaths
AIDS related deaths
Non-fatal outcomes

unwanted pregnancy
chronic pain syndromes
injury
depression
alcohol/drug use
STDs/HIV
Irritable bowel syndrome
gynecological disorders

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Consequences of violence for
children

low birth-weight
emotional well-being
behavioural difficulties
problems at school
injuries
leave home/ delinquency
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GBV DECIMATION.HOW??
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November 25
th

International day for elimination of violence
against women
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During the 66th World Health Assembly
in May 2013, seven governments
Belgium, India, Mexico,
Netherlands, Norway, United States
of America, and Zambia
declared VAW "a major global
public health, gender equality and
human rights challenge, touching every
country and every part of society"
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,
Protection Of Women From Domestic
Violence Act 2005

This Act came in to force on 26th Oct, 2006.

Crimes against women broadly fall in two
categories.
a) Crimes identified under IPC and
b) Crimes identified under Special Laws.




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Crime Section of IPC
Rape 376
Kidnapping and abduction for different
purposes
363 373 IPC
Homicide for dowry, dowry deaths or
their attempts
302, 304-B IPC
Torture, both mental and physical 498-A IPC
Importation of girls (up to 21 years of
age.
366-B IPC
Molestation 354 IPC
Sexual harassment 509 IPC
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Special Act
Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act
1987

Dowry (Prohibition) Act 1961
Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956

Indecent Representation of women
(Prohibition) Act 1986

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy
Act 1971


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In high-income settings
school-based programmes to
prevent relationship violence among
young people are supported by some
evidence of effectiveness.

In low-income settings
Primary prevention strategies like
microfinance, gender equality training and
community-based initiatives that address
gender inequality and communication and
relationship skills, hold promise.
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