Sexual and gender-based violence

GBV is violence directed against a person because of that person’s gender or violence that affects persons of a particular gender disproportionately.

Violence against women is understood as a violation of human rights and a form of discrimination against women and shall mean all acts of gender-based violence that result in, or are likely to result in

• physical harm,
• sexual harm,
• psychological,
• or economic harm
• or suffering to women.

It can include violence against women, domestic violence against women, men or children living in the same domestic unit. Although women and girls are the main victims of GBV, it also causes severe harm to families and communities.

Gender-Based violence refers to harmful acts directed at an individual based on their gender. It is rooted in gender inequality, the abuse of power and harmful norms.

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a serious violation of human rights and a life-threatening health and protection issue. It is estimated that one in three women will experience sexual or physical violence in their lifetime. During displacement and times of crisis, the threat of GBV significantly increases for women and girls.

Gender-based violence is preventable and UNHCR is committed to promoting gender equality and human rights and to protecting refugees and other persons of concern from GBV.

GBV can take various forms:

• Physical: it results in injuries, distress and health problems. Typical forms of physical violence are beating, strangling, pushing, and the use of weapons. In the EU, 31 % of women have experienced one or more acts of physical violence since the age of 15.
• Sexual: it includes sexual acts, attempts to obtain a sexual act, acts to traffic, or acts otherwise directed against a person’s sexuality without the person’s consent. It’s estimated that one in 20 women (5 %) has been raped in EU countries since the age of 15.
• Psychological: includes psychologically abusive behaviours, such as controlling, coercion, economic violence and blackmail. 43% of women in the 28 EU countries have experienced some form of psychological violence by an intimate partner.