Every third woman experiences physical and/or sexual violence during her life.
Gender-based violence is a collective term for all types of violence and violent acts that are committed against a person’s will that have their roots in discrimination against women and girls. Rape, human trafficking, honor killing and harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation, are examples of gender-based violence.
Violation of human rights
Gender-based violence is a serious violation of human rights. The violence is a criminal act, but is rarely punished. Most countries have inadequate legislation, and those who suffer are very rarely granted reparations.
Gender-based violence is considered to be the greatest health problem for women and girls globally.
Universal
Gender-based violence takes place in the home, among family and in close relations, in the public sphere and within faith-based institutions.
Types of gender-based violence vary across cultures, religions and countries and occur even in countries with a high degree of equality between the sexes. The violence is associated with shame and stigmatization.
Our work
Together with the ACT Alliance, Norwegian Church Aid is mobilising women and men, local partners and faith-based organisations to promote zero tolerance against all types of gender-based violence.
- We are working to challenge the behaviour of men and women toward harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation, forced marriage, violence in close relationships and trafficking of women and children.
- We are contributing with medical, psychosocial, legal and economic support for women and men who have experienced violence, as well as protection.
- We are mobilising religious and traditional leaders and institutions to challenge harmful practices and discrimination that contribute to gender-based violence, both within their own structures and in the wider society.
- We are engaged in advocacy to encourage and implement legislation against gender-based violence and discrimination against women and girls.
Where we work
The following countries are included in the ‘Gender-based violence’ programme: The Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, North Sudan, Tanzania, Angola, Malawi, South Africa, Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Pakistan, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Russia.
Examples of projects
In Ethiopia, ‘community conversations’ are being used to change harmful customs such as female genital mutilation and to persuade religious and traditional leaders to declare zero tolerance for the customs.
In Zambia, churches have set work in motion on theological reflection concerning discriminatory attitudes, interpretations and practise. Training material has been developed for East African churches connected with our Tamar campaign.
Results
In 2010, Norwegian Church Aid carried out a global evaluation of work against gender-based violence, and between 2005 and 2010, we doubled the number of projects to approximately 100 projects in 36 countries.
Evaluation shows that, through our efforts, we have succeeded especially in bringing gender-based violence out of the private sphere and making it a common, public concern; from a taboo to something that affects everyone.
Read the entire evaluation here.
Work with training in women’s and girls’ rights, work with legislation and public declarations by significant religious leaders was especially emphasised as contributing to reducing violence. Many challenges remain concerning cultural sensitivity and inadequate political prioritisation.
Violence in war and conflict
Sexual violence, mass rape and sexual slavery are used deliberately as strategic weapons in war and conflict in order to humiliate, frighten and control the opposition local population. In 2000, the United Nations Security Council gave guidelines for work with women, peace and security through Resolution 1325.
Read more about Norwegian Church Aid’s global programme “The Right to Peace and Security.”