Gender-based violence
What is gender-based violence?
Gender-based violence (GBV) refers to acts that hurt, threaten, violate, force or restrict someone, and which are based in a gendered power structure. This gendered power structure uses perceptions of masculinity and femininity to create a rank order of gender, resulting in a power imbalance.
Both men and women can be survivors/victims or perpetrators of GBV. However, statistics show that the majority of all GBV against women and girls is perpetrated by men.
A significant part of GBV is sexual violence: violence as a sexual expression of power and control, which has nothing to do with sexuality. Sexual violence includes rape, sexual abuse and sexual harassment.
At Kvinna till Kvinna, we focus on addressing GBV by men against women and girls in conflict-affected areas. That is because we see that women are at increased risk of violence during conflicts—both in public and in their homes.
We also address other acts of GBV such as honour crimes, child marriage, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, and violence against those whose gender identity or sexuality does not fit society’s expectations.