Gender-based violence

Let’s explore together more about what exactly stands behind the term gender based violence

What is Gender?

The term “Gender” refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for different genders.

What is Gender-Based Violence?

Gender-based violence (GBV) is violence committed against a person because of their sex or gender. It is forcing another person to do something against their will through violence, coercion, threats, deception, cultural expectations, or economic means (UNHCR).

What are the forms of gender-based violence (GBV)?

Gender-based violence can include:

• Sexual,
• Physical,
• Mental,
• Economic,
• Domestic

Examples of each form:

• Sexual violence is any act, attempted or threatened, that is sexual in nature and carried out without the consent of the oppressed. Sexual violence includes rape, sexual abuse and harassment, exploitation, and forced prostitution. It can happen within marriages, especially when there is a lack of consent for sexual activity by one of the spouses.
• Physical violence, such as beating, punching, maiming and killing (with or without weapons) is often combined with non-violent forms of SGBV, including emotional and psychological violence.
• Emotional or psychological violence is non-sexual, verbal abuse that is insulting and degrading to the oppressed. This can include isolating a person from his or her friends and family.
• Socio-economic violence, which excludes a person from participating in society. This includes the denial of access of the person to health services, education and work, and the denial of his or her civil, social, economic, cultural and political rights.
• Domestic violence is any physical, sexual, psychological, verbal and economic violence between one person and another within the family. It may be committed by family members and/or people considered as family members, whether or not they live in the same household. (UNHCR)

Harmful practices 

They include female circumcision, honour killings, polygamous marriages (marriages to more than one person), marriage of a child (any person who has not yet completed 18 years of age) and forced marriage (any marriage imposed against the will of a person).

• Child marriage: According to the Turkish Penal Code, the legal age of marriage is 18. Refugees wishing to marry in Türkiye are subject to Turkish law and procedures. Unofficial marriage with a child (any person who has not yet completed 18 years of age) is illegal, considered a crime and is punishable under the Turkish Penal Code.
• Polygamous marriage: As with child marriage, marriage to more than one person (polygamy) is illegal and punishable in Türkiye.

All forms of sexual and gender-based violence, including domestic violence, forced marriage and child marriage, violate fundamental human rights. (UNHCR)

Prepared by IFYD ESC Volunteer: Teodor Grozev

References:

https://help.unhcr.org/turkiye/social-economic-and-civil-matters/sexual-and-gender-based-violence/

https://www.unhcr.org/what-we-do/protect-human-rights/protection/gender-based-violence

https://dictionary.apa.org/