Gender Based Violence (GBV) is a sensitive topic in our community and is often overlooked in health care. The cultural and religious beliefs that influence the way we treat others can have adverse consequences on the health of an individual and the community. This can be a difficult topic to discuss, but the bottom line is VIOLENCE IS WRONG!
What is GBV?
GBV is an umbrella term for any harmful act that is perpetrated against a person’s will, and that is based on socially ascribed (gender) differences between males and females. These acts can occur in public or in private.(1)
What are the Types and Forms of GBV?
What are the Root causes and Consequences of GBV?
Global facts
- Slightly more than 1 in 3 women have experienced violence at the hands of a partner or family member.
- Nearly 40% of women who are murdered die at the hands of their partners.
- 90% of rape victims are women.
- 80% of adult victims know their rapist and over 90% of youth victims know theirs.
- Many women feel that violence against wives is justified in some cases. Ethiopia, India, Bhutan, Samoa, and Laos are just some countries where over half of women feel as such.
- Over 90% of offenders never see justice.
- Gender-based violence is incredibly expensive. The costs of healthcare, psychosocial counselling, legal services, and lost wages from time spent recovering total in the trillions of dollars every year. This is comparable to the total amount of military spending by all countries each year. (1)
PNG facts
Gender Based Violence in health care (part 2)
1-Tok Kaunselin. Helpim Lain
7150 8000
delivers a comprehensive counselling and referral service for survivors of gender-based violence from 7am – 7pm 7 days a week.
References
1. Kirkegaard D. USA for UNFPA. 2020 [cited 2024 Apr 13]. What is gender-based violence (GBV)? Available from: https://www.usaforunfpa.org/what-is-gender-based-violence-gbv/
2. National-Strategy-to-Prevent-and-Respond-to-GBV.pdf [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 13]. Available from: https://femilipng.org/wp-content/uploads/National-Strategy-to-Prevent-and-Respond-to-GBV.pdf
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