Gender-based violence is today considered one of the most widespread barbaric human behaviours. It ranges from physical to sexual violence to female genital mutilation, child marriage and sexual violence as a weapon of war.
Though GBV mostly harms women and children, in East and Southern Africa, adolescents and children are the most vulnerable. Barbaric practices, like FGM and child marriage, have significant consequences on the bodily autonomy of women, impacting their right to choose when, if and the number of children they wish to have.
Violence against women is pervasive, including on digital platforms. The Economist Alliance Unit worldwide data indicates that 37 per cent of women with internet access have individually experienced online harassment.
GBV has serious consequences on women’s physical health, sexual and reproductive health and mental wellness. It violates women’s human rights and has adverse economic and social consequences for men, women, their children and communities.
GBV prevalence rate is high in this region because of harmful gender norms, alcoholism and poverty, violence in urban slums and conflict. In sub-Saharan Africa, the study reveals that partner violence and the fear of abuse prevent girls from refusing sex and jeopardise their ability to negotiate the use of contraceptives.
The region has a high prevalence of GBV and harmful practices among adolescents and young women. In 2023, of girls aged 21-25 years, 32 per cent were married before the age of 18. Primitive practices such as FGM and child marriage continue to persist in the region with significant consequences to bodily autonomy.
In seven countries in the region, about 21 per cent of people aged 16 to 26 reported that they had experienced sexual violence from an intimate partner. Sexual violence against adolescents aged 16 and below is highest in conflict and post-conflict countries such as DRC, Gabon, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Females with disabilities are estimated to be up to 10 times more likely to experience sexual violence, with a range of 44 to 69 per cent of girls with disabilities below 18 years experiencing sexual violence.
Less than 10 per cent of adolescent girls between 14 and 19 years who experienced forced sex did not report or request professional services because of fear, stigma, discrimination and limited facilities.
In sub-Saharan Africa, gender-responsive policies and legislation are increasing in momentum and nearly 65 per cent of the countries have laws specifically criminalising GBV. These laws are, however, often limited in scope and coverage or rarely not enforced.
And these domestic violence legislation varies greatly in scope and applicability from one nation to the next. Only 36 per cent of sub-Saharan African countries have laws covering physical, sexual, psychological and economic violence.
The continent has achieved progress in terms of women’s political participation in sub-Saharan Africa. Nevertheless, young women's decision-making over their bodies is still limited.
The latest UNFPA data indicates that only 54 per cent of married women aged 15 to 50 globally make their own decisions regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Analysis of the data from 57 countries, including East and Southern Africa, shows that while women seem to have the autonomy in deciding to use contraceptives, only three in five can decide on their own health care or say no to sex.
Advocate of the High Court