Recognizing Gender-Based Violence

Gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, is a major problem for women and girls in the Caribbean, Latin America and around the world.

Here are some forms of GBV:

1. Physical Violence: Physical violence is one of the most common forms of gender-based violence and can include hitting, slapping, choking, and other physical assault. It can have long-term physical, psychological, and social consequences. According to the World Health Organization, 35% of women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner.

2. Sexual Violence: Sexual violence includes any form of unwanted sexual contact, including rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. It can have serious physical, psychological, and social consequences. The United Nations estimates that 1 in 3 women have experienced sexual or physical intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence at some point in their lives.

3. Emotional and Psychological Abuse: Emotional and psychological abuse can include verbal abuse, manipulation, isolation, and control. It can have long-term consequences for the victim’s mental health and well-being. According to the World Health Organization, nearly half of women who have been in a relationship report experiencing some form of emotional or psychological abuse.

4. Financial Abuse: Financial abuse is a form of abuse in which one partner controls the other’s access to money or resources. It can have long-term consequences for a victim’s financial security. According to a study by the Allstate Foundation, 1 in 4 women have experienced financial abuse in a relationship.

5. Stalking: Stalking is a form of harassment in which one partner follows, monitors, or threatens the other. It can include physical, psychological, or sexual threats. It can have serious psychological and safety implications for the victim. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that nearly 1 in 6 women have experienced stalking in their lifetime.

If you have experienced or experiencing any of the above, seek help from a trusted health care provider or counselllor.

The Editor.

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