In recent months, gender-based violence has been on the rise in Kenya and the world at large. It remains the most widespread form of human rights violation and one of the worst and more neglected outcomes of crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic. This is because disasters lead to the breakdown of social infrastructure, high stress levels, exacerbated personal weaknesses and worsened conflicts.
Statistics show that approximately 35 per cent of women around the world will experience some form of violence during their lifetime, regardless of boundaries or culture, making it a global crisis.
The endemic nature of GBV is rooted in structural gender inequalities and discrimination. The subordinated gender (usually women) will generally have less power and resources than their abusers. Gendered mechanisms at individual and societal levels lead to norms, values and practices that in turn cause distinction between the sexes.
This distinction often assigns one gender as subordinate to the other. This means that most if not all important decisions are made by the ‘superior gender’, which also manages most of the resources and polices the subordinate through condoned or tolerated violence, or threats of the same.
GBV takes place in different forms, including physical and sexual assault, verbal abuse, female genital mutilation, emotional abuse, economic as well as psychological abuse. All these forms of violence are interconnected and commonly have intertwined root causes.
Perpetrators can be known or unknown, though in most cases they are known—relatives, spouses, intimate partners and neighbours. Individuals from resource-limited communities, especially those living in poverty, are also more likely to experience violence from their intimate partners.
GBV is one of the biggest barriers to social, political and economic development in the world. It not only devastates the lives of victims/survivors and their families and divides communities but also undermines development efforts and the building of just and peaceful societies.
Survivors are trapped in frustration and at times poverty, unable to fully exploit their potential, freedoms and rights; some of which are inherent.
Efforts towards ending violence over the years have focused on the survivors of these acts but don’t seem to look into the root causes, which happen to also be embedded in culture.
For example, female children the world over begin experiencing sexual and physical violence at the hands of boys and men they know well at an early age. Boys on the other hand are socialised to not display vulnerability or to seem weak.
Another example is from cultures where women have been perceived as lesser humans. Small girls face more punishment for mistakes at home while boys get away with much just by virtue of their gender.
Finally, older women who experienced abuse in their younger years tend to abandon the men who abused them. This leads to isolation and has a detrimental effect on the men once they grow older.
These experiences and norms have damaging impacts on mental and physical health as well as increasing the likelihood of continuing to experience violence into adulthood.
It is known that child sexual abuse is a positive predictor of intimate partner violence, with child survivors having six times higher risk. Children who grow up in violent households tend to have a higher risk of the same in adulthood. On the other hand, survivors of GBV are generally more likely to re-experience or perpetuate the same to others.
This state of affairs must be challenged as a matter of urgency. The blame, shame and stigma faced by survivors or victims and their families need to be eliminated.
Violence is the sole responsibility of the perpetrator, who must be held accountable according to national or international legislation. Fear or threat of violence must not restrict the vulnerable from living free and full lives; nor from realising their full potential.
We all have a responsibility to create enabling environments for these principles to thrive.
Everyone needs to know that discrimination leads to violence most times while equality promotes peace in society. Educating and promoting respectful relationships between everyone and cultivating mutual respect, gender equality and responsibility early in life will go a long way in fighting GBV.
Cultures, values and norms are nurtured in childhood. Let us, therefore, challenge any deep-rooted unjust cultural norms that encourage tolerance for violence.
Family practitioner. [email protected] @DrJeldahMokeira
