Gender based violence (GBV) remains one of the most prevalent forms of human violation. It disrupts and destroys the peacefulness of communities and has severe long-term psychological effects on victims. 

GBV is defined as acts of violence and discrimination resulting in harm directed towards individuals of a specific gender. It presents itself in various ways such as rape, defilement, human trafficking, prostitution and more.

Since the beginning of 2020 and the COVID-19 outbreak, there has been a staggering 80% uptick in GBV, particularly when it comes to domestic abuse. Most of those that survive GBV are left with traumatic memories that are not easy to overcome.

Mina’s experience illustrates clearly what GBV could appear as and its increase following the global pandemic. Mina, a 7th-grade schoolgirl, was an active participant in World Renew’s adolescent leader program.

Mina lived with her parents and her elder brother in a one-room house in a slum in a large city. One day, she stopped going to school and was absent from World Renew’s adolescent meetings. Mina’s brother had begun to sexually abuse her.

Fortunately, Mina’s peers and leaders recognized what was happening and managed to help her and her parents resolve the situation. The impact of the event, however, would stay. Mina had lost two years of school and would be saddled with the trauma of abuse no one, especially a girl that young, should have to bear.

One of the most common causes of many types of gender based violence can be attributed to harmful gender norms. Some examples include viewing women as docile and subservient providers, early and forced marriages, and female genital mutilation.

Hunger and by extension, economic hardship is also a common driver behind GBV. Whether it’s due to increased familial tension leading to domestic abuse or families forcing marriages for dowry, food scarcity and economic hardship have always been linked to a noticeable increase in GBV. Young girls are sometimes given as brides by their parents who believe the marriage will secure the safety and well-being of their daughters.

War and conflict produce some of the most harrowing and heartbreaking types of gender based violence; the United Nations Organization Mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) documented 1,409 cases of conflict-related GBV in Congo in 2019, the unreported figure is likely to be much higher. Often women endure rape, hoping their attackers will spare their lives. 

It is important to keep in mind that it is not just women but also men who can be impacted by GBV. War illustrates this the best, as GBV against men is much more visible and violent during these conflicts.

A perfect example of this is the genocide against Muslim men in Bosnia during the 1990s. A particularly high-profile case in the fall of Srebrenica, where the failure of the UN peacekeepers led to the collapse of a safe zone. This resulted in a deliberate mass execution targeting specifically Muslim men; over 8,000 would perish in the killings.

The consequences of Gender Based Violence (GBV) range from immediate, short-term to long-term and intergenerational, and the damage can be physical, mental or emotional.

Immediate physical consequences

The violence inflicted upon victims of Gender Based Violence can be immediate and physical; these consequences include; fractures and hemorrhaging, as well as other long-term physical conditions such as issues with the gastrointestinal system or central nervous system that can cause chronic pain.

There is also a risk of sexual and reproductive health problems, such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or HIV and AIDs occurring. And since most of the time, gender based violence and unsafe sex occur in correlation, GBV can result in unplanned pregnancies.

Long-term psychological consequences

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a very real consequence of GBV that many victims suffer through. Survivors of GBV, and witnesses to the violence, often carry the experience for life. The emotional damage resulting from the experience can be very traumatizing. Mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as attempted suicide are all prevalent in victims of Gender Based Violence. 

The poor mental health resulting from GBV can also cause poor social functioning skills and social isolation and marginalization of individuals in their communities, which deteriorates their emotional and mental well-being even more. 

To this day, witnesses of the rapes that occurred following Srebrenica’s fall still recall the terrible scenes they saw. 

The costs and consequence of violence against women last for generations. At World Renew, we understand GBV as a profound violation of the will of God and have been increasing our efforts to help women and children escape from those horrors while completing their education, remain unmarried throughout their childhood, remain free from sexual or domestic violence, and become leaders in their communities.

World Renew strives to empower women through education and training and make them aware of their rights, strengths, and the fact that they are wonderfully made by God.  

By educating women and girls like Happy about the consequences of gender-based violence and childhood marriage, as well as her rights to live and advocate for leadership and education.

But to end GBV, more must be done than just working to educate women. GBV stems from patriarchal cultures and norms and to bring about change; it is necessary to educate men too, on the value of the women in their community. For a problem like GBV that is so deeply rooted in some cultures, change needs to come from within. One of the best ways to address GBV is to educate both men and women about the adverse effects of GBV and why it must be prevented.

It is also very important to listen and talk to victims of GBV, a simple act that you can do without extensive preparation yet makes so much difference in the lives of the victims. Having a sympathetic ear to listen as they talk about their trauma can help heal the emotional stress of the victim. More importantly, it is also necessary to identify potential victims of abuse so steps can be taken to support them so they are not left feeling hopeless.

As God’s faithful, we help give a voice to those who have suffered in silence for far too long. Too often, the victims of GBV suffer in silence, not knowing that they have rights – too afraid to speak out against their abusers. Through your gift, you can help educate communities on the devastating effects of GBV. You can help women and girls to recognize that they are God’s image-bearers and deserving of respect.

Your gift goes directly to education efforts in local communities in GBV-prevalent regions like Senegal, Zambia, and more.

Thank you in advance for your donation.