Gender-based Violence SIPU ITP, 2011 Material developed for Sida through NCG/KL by C Wennerholm, A Nordlund and J Förberg 1

Towards a definition GBV, VAW, Sexual violence - used interchangeably No single internationally accepted definition for GBV See handout! Critique: too narrow focus, focuses on VAW, women as victims 2

Focus on women vs gender Women For long time VAW considered in terms of outside the home. Domestic violence, occurring in the home, “private business” (still argument not to interfere). Women as the victims. Gender Centrality of gender relations in the violence; societal and relational context of GBV Women and men Issue of power relations Social variables as ethnicity, nationality, poverty, class, age, sexual orientation, other 3

Reality GBV is violence directed at individuals on the basis of their gender: – Women, men, girls, boys – Strong link to sexuality Women and girls tend to be the majority of the victims. GBV is indiscriminate - cuts across racial, ethnic, class, economic, religious divides. See handout! 4

Different ways of organising/ analyzing GBV, types Sexual violence harassment, rape, incest, trafficking.. Physical violence battering, female infanticide, child beating… Psychological violence threats, insults, blackmailing, humiliation, oppression… Socio-economic violence discriminatory access to basic health care, inadequate shelter and food, armed conflict… 5

Different ways of organising/analizing GBV,i.e. risk factors (context specific) ( Ecological approach, Ellsberg (WB 2008) Intimate partner violence as a child, abuse or witness to violence as a child, HIV status, absent or rejecting father… At individual level Association with gang members, delinquent or patriarchal peers, male control over HH, multiple partners of the husband, economic hardship, male alcohol/substance abuse… At relationship level Lack of economic opportunities for men, high neighborhood crime rate… At social/ community level Cultural norms supporting violence, or male dominance and women’s obedience and sexual availability, discriminating policies and laws, women’s access and control over resources … At institutional/state level 6

Causes/Risk factors to GBV (main) Gender roles and unequal power structures Poverty, ignorance and social unrest Stress (by change) Sense of insecurity Conflict Drugs, alcohol 7

Gender norms Violence often about men seeking what they believe is rightfully theirs. The need to demonstrate they are “real men”, particularly in times of conflict Men with more traditional views on manhood - more likely to have participated in delinquency, been arrested or used VAW He beats me, he loves me… 8

Men - not only perpetrators 9 Indirect targets of GBV Rape in public or in front of family, or as threat, or institutional (mass rape in war) Socialised into violent behaviour Do not cry, be strong, defend your family and country... Witness or victim of violence - more likely to reproduce violence

Gender norms – some protective factors 90 societies world wide: family violence (Levinson1989) : – Characteristics of societies were family violence is less likely to occur – Co-operation, commitment, sharing and equality Reduced personal exposure to violence 74 programs targeting gun perpetrators in 38 countries: – 2/3 less prone to violence in programs including: – masculinity, – intimate partnership, – non-violent conflict resolution Social, economic and political empowerment of young men and women, particularly in conflict 10

Acts of violence committed GBV Against women because they are women Against men because they are men Against LGBT persons because they are LGBT persons 11 Based on roles and expectations in a certain society And because of unequal power structures Impacts on all sectors in society…

GBV an issue of GBV Human rights Gender equality Health Economy Develop- ment Conflict 12

13

How does GBV impact on the different sectors? Level of impact/ sector HealthEducationEconomic Development Law and justice Individual Family Community National 14