16 Days of Activism Against GBV with Kahle Counselling Hub

Root causes of gender-based violence
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a term used to describe any harmful act that is perpetuated against a person based on their biological sex, gender identity, or cultural expectations of what it means to be a man, woman, boy, or girl. It includes any form of act or behaviour that causes fear, bodily harm, emotional harm, a person to act against their will, and death and it is one of the most widespread forms of violence. It affects individuals and communities everywhere, regardless of class, age, religion and education status.

GBV is rooted in the imbalance of power and takes advantage of societal norms and expectations regarding masculinity and femininity. Although people of all genders can experience GBV, a large proportion of the violation is aimed specifically at women, girls, children, people with disabilities and the elderly because of the low social status that is accorded to them by society.

Sources of GBV
Cultural factors that legitimise violence, emphasising male dominance and superiority. Family is often viewed as a private entity under male authority and this perpetuates patriarchy, giving power to the male folks in that system. This practice tends to devalue women and girls, normalises abuse and suggests that violence is accidental. Men then use their power to defend and/or deny the impact of their behaviour.

Religious and historical traditions have sometimes endorsed the physical punishment of women, encouraging ownership and control over their sexuality. Some religious beliefs reinforce the societal norms, positioning men as the primary decision-makers and women as subordinates. That promotes aggressive or even toxic masculinity.

Legal Factors: Being a victim of GBV is often seen as shameful, contributing to low reporting levels, leaving women vulnerable to domestic violence. Economic Factors: Gender inequality, unequal economic opportunities contribute to power imbalances, making women more vulnerable to violence.

Political Factors: Policy gaps and inadequate implementation also spread GBV. Lack of trust between survivors and the public authorities also hinder reporting and investigation of gender-based violence cases.

To address gender-based violence requires an inclusive approach that will tackle these root causes and promote a violent-free society.