Gender-based violence

Sexual violence, rape and abuse against girls and women are increasing globally, particular in conflict areas. Rape is used as a weapon in war, it is a crime against humanity, but states and the international community fail to protect the female population and prosecute the perpetrators. Marginal resources are available to assisting survivors and defending their rights and dignity.

Gender-based violence (GBV) is an umbrella term for any harmful act perpetrated against a person's will, and that is based on socially ascribed gender differences between males and females. It is violence committed due to your sex because of gender discrimination and inequalities between women and men.  

Gross violation

Gender-based violence is a gross violation of human rights and a crime, but most perpetrators abuse with impunity. It is often hidden and mostly unacknowledged, it reflects patriarchal structures and discrimination of girls and women. Physical and psychological injuries, fistula, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, trauma, stigmatization, HIV and AIDS – or death – are result of these forms of violence. It happens in marriages, by family members, in the community, by soldiers, police officers, and even teachers. It has devastating effects upon the life, dignity and health of the victim, and contributes to impoverishment.

The nature and extent of specific types of GBV vary across cultures, religions and countries. It includes sexual violence, exploitation and abuse, rape, forced prostitution, forced and early marriage, domestic violence, trafficking, sexual slavery, harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), honour killing, widow inheritance, dowry murder, female infanticide, or femicide. 

War and conflict always leads to an increase in violence towards women – women's bodies continue to be battlegrounds. This threatens their right to protection and security and poses major obstacles to their equal participation in society, according to UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, War and Security.

NCA works to:

• Promote zero tolerance against violence against girls and women in programming
• Prevent and respond to the rights and dignity of survivors of GBV
• Challenge attitudes and behaviour, with a focus on men and religious leaders and institutions, to take action against GBV
• Advocacy work on resources and commitments to UN SC resolution 1325 to protect women and children and to secure equal participation of women at all levels in peace building and reconstruction.
• Make use of innovative approaches like “Community dialogue” to reducing harmful traditional practices, like female genital mutilation and early marriages
• Promote prevention and response to trafficking of women and children and advocating for their rights
• Promote increased access to education for girls by addressing sexual harassment and abuse in schools
• Promote compliance to NCA Code of conduct for staff against sexual exploitation and abuse.