Gender-based violence (GBV) is not a new issue. It has haunted societies for centuries, leaving scars across individuals and communities. While progress has been made in raising awareness, GBV continues to cast a long shadow.
The question many ask is simple but urgent: What is gender-based violence (GBV)–and how do we prevent it? Understanding the definition, causes, and prevention is key. Without that, we cannot reduce the risks or protect vulnerable groups.
This article breaks down the issue in clear terms. We’ll define GBV, identify who is most at risk, explore causes during crises, and close with prevention measures. Along the way, examples and explanations will ground the discussion in everyday reality.
What is gender-based violence?
At its core, gender-based violence refers to harm inflicted on individuals because of their gender. It is not random or accidental—it’s systematic. Power imbalances and entrenched gender roles allow such violence to flourish.
Forms of GBV range from the obvious to the hidden. Physical assaults, sexual harassment, and rape are the most visible. Yet GBV also includes emotional abuse, forced marriages, economic deprivation, and denial of basic rights. A woman barred from working or studying experiences GBV just as much as one who faces physical assault.
The roots of GBV stretch deep. Cultural traditions, rigid gender roles, and social expectations all reinforce harmful behaviors. In many societies, masculinity is tied to dominance, while femininity is associated with submission. These stereotypes create fertile ground for abuse.
The impact of GBV extends beyond the survivor. Children who witness violence may internalize it as normal behavior. Communities burdened by widespread GBV lose productivity, stability, and trust. Healthcare systems bear the costs of treating survivors, while economies lose billions in lost labor.
So, GBV is not only a personal tragedy—it is a societal crisis. And unless addressed, it undermines human rights, economic development, and peace.
Who is most at risk?
Not everyone faces GBV equally. Certain groups bear a disproportionate burden, shaped by inequality, identity, and circumstance.
Women and girls remain the most vulnerable. Statistics consistently show higher rates of violence against them worldwide. Cultural practices such as early marriage and female genital mutilation target them directly. In workplaces, women face harassment and unequal pay structures that expose them to further risks.
Men and boys are not immune. In conflict zones, sexual violence is sometimes used against them as a weapon of humiliation. Boys may also face abuse in detention centers, schools, or homes where violence is normalized.
Vulnerability increases when gender intersects with other identities. LGBTQ+ individuals often face targeted violence, especially in regions where homosexuality is criminalized. People with disabilities encounter abuse from caretakers who exploit dependency. Refugees, lacking legal protections, may suffer exploitation in camps.
Children represent another vulnerable group. They may be coerced into marriage, recruited into armed groups, or forced into labor. Elderly women, often forgotten, can be neglected, abandoned, or abused in domestic and institutional settings.
It’s important to recognize these overlapping risks. A refugee girl with a disability, for instance, faces far greater dangers than a boy in her community. Prevention efforts must account for these complex intersections.
What causes gender-based violence in crisis settings?
Crises amplify existing inequalities. When disaster strikes, the systems that normally provide some protection often collapse. This creates an environment where GBV flourishes.
During war, natural disasters, or mass displacements, normal safeguards disappear. Police may be absent, courts may close, and community leaders may lose influence. With accountability weakened, perpetrators act with impunity. Survivors, meanwhile, have fewer options for support or justice.
Five main drivers of GBV emerge consistently in such settings. These include poverty, breakdown of services, conflict and war, displacement, and stress in the home. Each plays a distinct role, but together they form a perfect storm of risk.
Poverty
Poverty forces difficult choices. Families struggling to survive may arrange early marriages for daughters, believing it reduces financial pressure. Women lacking income may endure abusive relationships because leaving would mean hunger or homelessness.
Crisis deepens these risks. When income disappears, survival often depends on desperate measures. Survival sex—exchanging sexual favors for food, shelter, or safety—becomes common in refugee camps or disaster zones. Such exploitation rarely stops once it begins.
Economic power is central here. Without financial independence, individuals cannot challenge abuse effectively. They depend on abusers for survival, making escape nearly impossible. Poverty traps victims, turning GBV into both a cause and consequence of inequality.
Breakdown of services
Crisis weakens or destroys essential services. Police, courts, and social workers may disappear. Hospitals may operate without trained staff. Without these systems, survivors face silence instead of justice.
Education services are equally critical. Schools often act as safe spaces, especially for girls. When schools close, girls may face forced marriage, labor, or exploitation. They lose both protection and opportunity.
This vacuum encourages perpetrators. With no one to hold them accountable, abusers act without fear. Survivors, meanwhile, may never report incidents, believing help will not come.
Conflict and war
War brings unique horrors. Sexual violence becomes a weapon, used to terrorize and control populations. Women, men, and children can all become victims. Such violence is not incidental—it is often strategic.
Justice during war is rare. Armed groups often act above the law, and survivors face stigma if they speak out. Many are left isolated, carrying trauma in silence.
Displacement compounds the problem. Families fleeing conflict often face abuse at checkpoints, border crossings, or camps. The chaos of war creates conditions where exploitation thrives unchecked.
Displacement
Displacement uproots communities, removing traditional protections. Refugee camps may lack privacy, secure housing, or safe sanitation facilities. Women walking to communal latrines at night face harassment or assault.
Without legal status, displaced people are vulnerable to traffickers. Desperation makes them easy targets. Even humanitarian aid can be exploited, with some officials demanding sexual favors in exchange for food or assistance.
Displacement also fractures community support. Survivors may be far from trusted relatives or elders who would normally intervene. Isolation magnifies vulnerability, leaving survivors with nowhere to turn.
Stress in the home
Household stress is an often-overlooked driver. Job loss, hunger, and insecurity increase tension. Sadly, this tension frequently erupts into violence against partners or children.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns showed this clearly. Reports of domestic violence surged as families were confined indoors with limited resources. Stress combined with isolation created conditions for abuse.
The cycle rarely ends with one generation. Children exposed to domestic violence may see it as normal. They risk becoming either future perpetrators or victims, extending the harm across decades.
Conclusion
Gender-based violence thrives in silence. It is reinforced by poverty, conflict, displacement, and failing systems. But it is not inevitable.
Prevention requires layered action. Governments must ensure services continue during crises. Communities must challenge harmful norms and support survivors. International organizations must provide funding, protection, and accountability mechanisms.
On an individual level, education is powerful. Teaching respect, equality, and nonviolence in homes and schools changes culture over time. Survivors need accessible services, from hotlines to shelters, so they know they are not alone.
Ultimately, GBV is preventable. It requires commitment, resources, and a shared belief that every person deserves dignity and safety. Asking “What is gender-based violence (GBV)–and how do we prevent it?” is only the start. Acting on the answers is what brings change.
