Gender Base Violence

Over one-third of women and girls globally will experience some form of violence in their lifetime. However, this rate is higher in emergencies, conflict, and crisis, where vulnerability and risks are increased and most often family, community, and legal protections have broken down.

Harm caused by GBV can be visible or hidden, and it also includes the threat of violence. GBV can take many forms, including: physical violence, such as assault or slavery; emotional or psychological violence, such as verbal abuse or confinement; ***ual abuse, including ****; harmful practices, like child marriage and female ******* mutilation; socio-economic violence, which includes denial of resources; and ***ual harassment, exploitation and abuse.

While GBV most often refers to violence against women and girls, it can also affect other marginalized groups when violence is used to reinforce or maintain oppressive gender norms.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), or ‘domestic violence’ is an all-too-common form of violence against women and girls. It refers to any behavior from a current or previous partner that causes harm—including physical aggression, ***ual coercion, psychological abuse and controlling behaviors.

Globally, the UN reports that one in four women have been subjected to physical and/or ***ual violence by an intimate partner at least once in their lifetime, and IRC research has shown that it is the most common form of violence against women and girls in humanitarian contexts.