Gender Based Violence (GBV) is an act of violence directed at individuals based on their gender and results in physical, emotional/ psychological harm, economic deprivation, and cause eminent harm to safety, health and well-being
Gender based Violence is a serious global health, human rights, and development issue. It is a symptom of underlying gender inequalities and power imbalances that goes beyond geography, race, culture, class, and religion, touching virtually every community in every corner of the globe.
Negative Effects #
- Physical injuries resulting in disfigurement and even death
- Psychological trauma
- Health issues e.g. contracting HIV/ AIDS and STIs
- Unwanted pregnancies
- Social stigmatization
- Economic deprivation
GBV affects women, men, girls, and boys. However, women and girls have been found to be more vulnerable to be affected. This is in correlation between women’s subordinate status in society and their greater susceptibility to violence.
The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, shows that 45 percent of women aged 15-49 have experienced either physical or sexual Gender Based Violence (GBV) is any harmful act, whether it is sexual, psychological or physical, violence, while nearly half (47 percent) of those ever married experienced either emotional, physical or sexual violence.
