Gender-Based Violence
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| Individually created T-shirts hang in a public display in Manenberg, Cape Town, South Africa, March 2004. The T-Shirts were created as part of the "clothesline project", which honored woman's experience and courage in facing violence. Credit: Susan Bazilli.
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Gender-based violence results in physical, sexual and psychological harm to both men and women and includes any form of violence or abuse that targets men or women
on the basis of their sex, although women and girls are usually the primary victims.
Gender-Based Violence and Gender Inequalities
Unequal power relations between men and women significantly contribute to gender-based violence. In fact, gender-based violence is often intended to maintain gender
inequalities and/or reinforce traditional gender roles for both men and women.
Gender-based violence experienced by women and girls includes, but is not limited to: battering, marital rape, sexual violence, dowry-related violence,
female infanticide, honor crimes, early marriage, forced marriage, female genital cutting, sexual harassment in the workplace and educational institutions,
commercial sexual exploitation, trafficking of girls and women, and violence perpetrated against domestic workers.
Gender-Based Violence is a Human Rights and Public Health Issue
Gender-based violence is a serious human rights and public health issue throughout the world. The perpetrator of the violence could be a domestic partner or an outsider. If a family member is the abuser, it makes it more difficult to identify the problem as it is happening behind closed doors. Furthermore, victims are less likely to report violence imposed by family or community members than by outsiders.
USAID's Work to End Violence Against Women
Eliminating violence against women has long been a goal of the United States. The U.S. Government recognizes that the equal participation of women in the political, economic and social spheres of society is a key ingredient for democratic development. At the same time, unless women fully enjoy their human rights, to which freedom from violence is inextricably bound, then progress toward development will continue to fall short.
USAID is committed to preventing gender-based violence by supporting legislation against it and by leading several activities.
USAID Activities on Gender-Based Violence
Selected Publications on Gender-Based Violence
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