While some progress has been made in the fight for gender equality, gender-based violence (GBV) continues to be a major human rights issue around the world - predominantly affecting girls and women, regardless of class, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability status or culture.
Every year, the 16 Days of Activism campaign takes place on 25 November and challenges violence against women and girls. To mark this year’s event, here are some key insights you need to know about GBV and what Concern is doing to protect the most vulnerable.
In fact, one in every three women worldwide will be physically, sexually or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Concern works with the poorest communities in 23 countries worldwide and protecting women is at the centre of everything we do.
These can include domestic violence, sexual harassment, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, online violence, and emotional, verbal, psychological, and economic abuse.
Physical and sexual violence towards women is often perpetrated by their partners or husbands and those living in poverty are at increased risk of GBV. In the urban slums of Dhaka in Bangladesh, around 66% of women experience physical or sexual violence at the hands of their husbands. To tackle this, Concern engages with men and women in order to influence a change in traditional gender norms and practices. This can result in behaviour change and promotes respectful and non-violent attitudes by men and boys.