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South Asian (SA) women, immigrant, and non-immigrant, living in the United States (US) and Canada make up a unique population for social research, specifically as it relates to intimate partner (IPV) or gender-based violence (GBV). Despite an increase in study of GBV or IPV including in the current pandemic situation, research on IPV for South Asian women in North America remains inadequate. There is a disconnect in the literature about how multiple psycho-social factors including socio-cultural, socio-demographic, and individual factors intersect and intensify IPV victimization of South Asian women in the North American context. Factors, like collectivism, patriarchy, and family honor are essential to this discussion. To better understand this gap and mobilize knowledge, this paper seeks to assess, evaluate, and examine the current state of literature on IPV among South Asian women in North America (Canada and US) in an effort to determine the associated psycho-social factors that exacerbate South Asian women's abuse experiences. Additionally, Kimberlé Crenshaw's intersectional approach is used to explain how South Asian women's overlapping multiple identities escalate the IPV experience. The results of this paper identify and articulate several psycho-social factors including individual factors (ethnicity, gender role, young age, education, religion, immigrant identity, English fluency, and economic dependency); social/community factors (acculturation which intersect with limited family support and change of gender roles; patriarchy; family primacy (collectivism and family honor); and limited community support); and the (lack of) service/technology knowledge can affect one's experiences of violence. Educational and policy recommendations for better intervention and/or prevention of IPV for South Asian women residing in the West is also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is a frequent but not ubiquitous part of warfare, affecting not only survivors but also their families and wider communities. This thematic review describes advances in research on CRSV, reviews new developments in the literature, and proposes recommendations for future study. Recent Findings: An increasing number of studies consider how to address methodological and ethical research challenges, how understudied victim/survivor groups as well as families and communities are affected by CRSV, how survivor-centered justice mechanisms can be developed to reduce impunity, and how CRSV is perceived by different actors. Summary: Research is expanding to deepen and nuance knowledge on CRSV, particularly on CRSV by rebel groups and the experiences of diverse victims. The research community is also growing more diverse. Remaining challenges exist, in particular regarding data and measurement, justice and accountability, and violations by state-affiliated actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Intervention support and treatment" programs are most likely to have been designed for the substances consumed by men, and to cater for men's needs, with little regard to the specific needs of women. Gender-based violence (GBV) has become a key area for addressing the treatment of drug addiction from a gender perspective. In this mapping review covering 32 articles, we examine the strategies used to address gender-based violence in drug addiction treatments that include women. The main topics of analysis were as follows: characteristics of drug addiction treatment, conceptualization of GBV, measurement and approach of GBV in treatment for drug addiction, and effects on health associated with GBV and drug addiction. Only 18.75% of the studies on GBV addressed the area of psycho-social care in the treatment of drug addiction. To avoid inequalities in the healthcare offered, gender-sensitive research and interventions are required which include GBV in the treatment of drug addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little research has been done on conceptualizing gender-based violence (GBV) against immigrant and refugee women as a continuum of violence. The objective of the larger study was to understand gender-based violence in migration and analyze the ways in which discriminations and inequalities interact to increase vulnerability and decrease access to supports and services for some women. Using (a) the concept of continuum of [sexual] violence and (b) intersectionality, we demonstrate the need to both document the range of violence in women's lives and the tactics of victimization among immigrant and refugee women and show how they are different than the cumulated literature showing victimization tactics against the Canadian-born population. Using semi-structured interviews via phone or video, we asked professionals (N = 43) who worked with migrant women across Canada about forms of GBV experienced in the immigrant and refugee populations they worked with. Participants reported that non-physical forms of violence are more normalized, but also more commonly experienced than physical forms of violence in Canada. Additionally, intersecting social identities impact both the distinct and amplified forms of GBV immigrant and refugee women experienced. Results contribute theoretically and empirically to the conceptualization of the GBV experiences by immigrant and refugee women in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender‐based violence (GBV), a global health and human rights concern, often intensifies during emergencies. This paper explores the evolution of GBV coordination in Lebanon's protracted Syrian refugee crisis from 2012–22. Utilising 38 in‐depth interviews and a document review, the findings were analysed using the framework for effective GBV coordination. Lebanon provides a positive yet complicated example of GBV coordination. Initially established to address the refugee crisis, it matured into a collaborative national coordination mechanism, fostering trust and advancing localisation amidst sectarian complexities. However, the volatile, restrictive policy context hindered government co‐leadership and engagement with refugee‐led organisations. While essential GBV response services were expanded nationwide, lack of an interagency strategy on GBV risk mitigation and prevention compromised lasting change. The paper emphasises the importance of dedicated GBV coordinators, multi‐year funding, and increased attention to GBV prevention. The findings underscore the transformative potential of humanitarian responses and advocate for enhanced engagement with national stakeholders to promote sustainability in protracted crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates forum theater, an interactive, participatory type of theater, as a tool to better understand and combat gender-based violence (GBV) in Makusha, a densely populated mining community in Shurugwi, the Midlands region of Zimbabwe. Deeply impacted by rapid mining industry expansion, this community faces intensifying social tensions. At the core of the study lies an examination of the influence of forum theater on community attitudes and behaviors. Attention is paid to its role in empowering vulnerable segments of the community, especially women, and how it fosters resilience and resistance against GBV. The study discusses the transformative potential of forum theater in addressing deep-seated social issues and the urgency of creating inclusive and violence-free spaces in communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an exhaustive analysis of the intersection between gender-based violence and environmental sustainability, focusing on the Colombian experience, particularly within the context of armed conflict and migration. This analysis investigates the emerging area of research in Colombia that focuses on preventing gender-based violence from ecological and environmental viewpoints. Adopting a socio-ecological lens, this study highlights the ways in which women are disproportionately affected by gender-based violence and environmental challenges, particularly in contexts defined by conflict, displacement, poverty, and inadequate access to resources. Women in these contexts face direct violence and the compounded hardships associated with losing essential natural resources that sustain their families and communities. The review highlights addressing these intertwined challenges by empowering women as agents of socio-environmental transformation. It emphasizes the need for holistic interventions linking gender-based violence prevention with strategies for environmental protection, including initiatives tailored to local contexts. These interventions involve environmental education programs, the promotion of female leadership in conservation efforts, and the implementation of community-based projects driven by women, fostering their role as key drivers of sustainable change. Moreover, the research emphasizes the multifaceted consequences of armed conflict on Colombia''s social and environmental systems, which further amplify the vulnerabilities of women and contribute to increased ecological decline. Addressing these issues jointly, it calls for public policies and programs adopting integrated socio-ecological perspectives to tackle gender-based violence and promote environmental sustainability. The proposed approach equips women with tools to combat violence and strengthens their capacity to contribute to environmental conservation and the establishment of resilient communities. This study advocates for a framework bridging gender-based violence prevention and environmental protection as a pathway to achieving inclusive, participatory, and sustainable peace. This strategy presents a viable structure for fostering enduring social and environmental improvements. Such an approach is particularly relevant for Colombia, where the legacy of conflict and displacement continues to pose significant challenges to both gender equality and ecological integrity.

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the association between drugs and alcohol intake and sexual abuse in adolescents, otherwise defined as Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA). We considered the survivors who accessed care at the Centre "Soccorso Violenza Sessuale" (SVS – Sexual Violence Relief Centre) in Turin (Italy), between May 2003 and May 2022. We found that 973 patients aged 13–24 among which 228 were victims of DFSA. Epidemiological and anamnestic aspects of the episode of sexual violence were examined, with a specific focus on investigating the alcohol and/or drug intake as reported by the victim, along with the results of the toxicological analysis. the study further accounts for the variations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on DFSA-related accesses. Our findings show that 23% of adolescents accessing care at SVS were subjected to DFSA. Six out ten adolescents knew their aggressor, at times a partner (10%) oran acquaintance (43%). In 12% of cases violence was perpetrated by a group of people (12%). Almost 90% of young victims described alcohol consumption, while 37% reported drug use at the time of the assault. Alcohol taken alone or in combination with other substances was the most detected drug in our sample throughout the period considered. Given the large use of psychoactive substances among adolescents, it is imperative to implement harm reduction strategies alongside educational activities aimed at fostering awareness about consent. Health personnel should be trained to manage the needs of victims of DFSA clinically and forensically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While all women are at risk of gender-based violence (GBV), it is essential to acknowledge that women are not a homogenous group and that women who are Deaf may experience GBV differently. This study aimed to answer the question: What are the perceptions and experiences of GBV among women who are Deaf? Objectives: The study’s objectives were to explore and describe these women’s understanding of GBV terminology, their perceptions of GBV and challenges regarding support strategies in place to respond to their unique circumstances. Method: A qualitative study with four workshops was conducted with 60 participants. The data collected were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The results yielded three themes that intrinsically spoke to women’s understanding of GBV terminology, perception of GBV and challenges accessing support. The results highlight that women who are Deaf are at a greater risk of GBV. Participants emphasised the importance of exploring the perceptions of GBV among men who are Deaf. Findings also indicated women’s challenges when seeking support. Conclusion: The findings underscore the necessity of offering specific assistance to Deaf women facing GBV. Based on the study findings, it can be concluded that those providing support in GBV matters should receive specialised training in GBV, including Deaf culture and South African sign language. Contribution: The study findings contribute to the field of disability and the development of effective GBV strategies and programmes that are inclusive of women who are Deaf within a South African context.

Little research has been done on conceptualizing gender-based violence (GBV) against immigrant and refugee women as a continuum of violence. The objective of the larger study was to understand gender-based violence in migration and analyze the ways in which discriminations and inequalities interact to increase vulnerability and decrease access to supports and services for some women. Using (a) the concept of continuum of [sexual] violence and (b) intersectionality, we demonstrate the need to both document the range of violence in women’s lives and the tactics of victimization among immigrant and refugee women and show how they are different than the cumulated literature showing victimization tactics against the Canadian-born population. Using semi-structured interviews via phone or video, we asked professionals (N = 43) who worked with migrant women across Canada about forms of GBV experienced in the immigrant and refugee populations they worked with. Participants reported that non-physical forms of violence are more normalized, but also more commonly experienced than physical forms of violence in Canada. Additionally, intersecting social identities impact both the distinct and amplified forms of GBV immigrant and refugee women experienced. Results contribute theoretically and empirically to the conceptualization of the GBV experiences by immigrant and refugee women in Canada.

The burgeoning field of public theology has garnered significant scholarly attention. Amidst its multifaceted discussions, a recurring theme asserts that theology plays a vital and irreplaceable role in public discourse. This perspective contends that engaging with matters of public concern from a theological standpoint not only contributes meaningfully to public discourse but also shapes our understanding of the world, human existence, and the divine. Within the African context, particularly in South Africa, gender-based violence (GBV) remains a pressing societal issue despite government and organizational efforts. This article delves into the potential role of pastors as public figures in addressing the persistent challenge of GBV. It explores the implications of pastors assuming public roles within an African context and how this engagement can be instrumental in combating GBV. By drawing on literature related to public practical theology, pastoral care, and GBV in South Africa, the article advocates for proactive public interventions by pastoral ministries. Through synthesizing insights from existing scholarship, it contributes to ongoing discussions at the intersection of theology, pastoral practice, and societal issues, with a specific focus on addressing GBV in the unique South African context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The portrayal of gender-based violence is present in all genres of prose, including the ghost story. There is currently a lack of research regarding gender-based violence portrayed in Afrikaans ghost stories in literature as well as in film and television. Alongside the acknowledged forms of gender-based violence (physical and non-physical abuse), I argue that an additional level of violence, namely psychic violence, is used in the ghost story to amplify the horror and impact of gender-based violence. To illustrate this psychic form of violence, I compare the portrayal of the character Emmie in the classic Afrikaans ghost story “Die bouval op Wilgerdal” (The Wilgerdal Ruins) by C. J. Langenhoven (1924) with her portrayal in the 2019 adaptation of Langenhoven’s short story for two episodes of the television series Die Spreeus (The Starlings). Emmie is haunted by both the ghost of her deceased beloved, Petrus, and the ghost of her stalker, Frans, who possessed Petrus’s body at the moment of his death. Where Emmie was moved to the background to deal with her trauma in silence and solitude in Langenhoven’s short story, she is put front and centre in Die Spreeus when her strange situation is investigated by the police as a case of domestic violence. The depiction of Emmie and this investigation casts a harsh light on the continuous plight of female victims of domestic violence, including revictimization, ongoing physical and emotional violence, victim blaming and gaslighting.

Abstract Background Conflicts exacerbate dynamics of power and inequalities through violence normalization, which acts as a facilitator for conflict-related sexual violence. Literature addressing its negative outcomes on survivors is scant. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the qualitative evidence reported in scientific literature and focusing on the negative consequences of conflict-related sexual violence on victims’ physical, psychological, and social dimensions of health in a gender-inclusive and disaggregated form. Methods A literature search was conducted on January 13, 2023 on Pubmed, Scopus, and PsychArticles. The search strings combined two blocks of terms related to sexual violence and conflict. A time filter was applied, limiting the search to studies published in the last ten years. Information regarding the main characteristics and design of the study, survivors and their experience, and about conflict-related sexual violence was collected. The negative consequences of conflict-related sexual violence on the physical, psychological, and social dimension of victims were extracted according to the Biopsychosocial model of health. The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews and relied on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses. Results After full text review, 23 articles met the inclusion criteria, with 18 of them reporting negative repercussions on physical health, all of them highlighting adverse psychological outcomes, and 21 disclosing unfavorable social consequences. The negative outcomes described in multiple studies were sexual and reproductive health issues, the most mentioned being pregnancy, manifestations of symptoms attributable to post-traumatic stress disorder, and stigma. A number of barriers to access to care were presented as emerging findings. Conclusions This review provided an analysis of the negative consequences of conflict-related sexual violence on survivors, thus highlighting the importance of qualitative evidence in understanding these outcomes and addressing barriers to access to care. Conflict-related sexual violence is a sexual and reproductive health issue. Sexuality education is needed at individual, community, and provider level, challenging gender norms and roles and encompassing gender-based violence. Gender-inclusive protocols and services need to be implemented to address the specific needs of all victims. Governments should advocate for SRHRs and translate health policies into services targeting survivors of CRSV.

Abstract In all domains of society, from health to the economy, security, and human rights, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are amplified for women and girls simply due to the issues associated with gender-based violence. This article will, therefore, explore international organisations and non-governmental organisations’ commitment to ending violence against women in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. To analyse this phenomenon, this article will first focus on the current necessity to make more efforts towards implementing a gender perspective in the field of humanitarian action. This would allow for women’s needs to be better targeted and could also enable them to be better included as actors in this process. Then, this article will highlight the involvement of different organisations in the fight against gender-based violence in parallel to the different programmes put forward in the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5. Consequently, after assessing the current actions made in the aftermath of the pandemic, this article will conclude by putting forth potential prospects for future progress.

Abstract Background Since 2019 Lebanon has faced multiple compounded crises. Political and social instability, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Beirut Port explosion, alongside the influx of refugees related to the ongoing Syrian conflict, have resulted in a nationwide economic emergency. In the context of the humanitarian response to the Syrian conflict, the UN and government-led gender-based violence (GBV) task force has coordinated the sub-sector since 2012. The compounded crisis, however, created new challenges for GBV coordination and service delivery, which we explore in this paper. We highlight lessons for strengthening GBV coordination in Lebanon and other complex emergencies. Methods We conducted 29 remote in-depth interviews, reviewed key policy documents and observed seven GBV task force meetings. We analysed and presented our findings across three key themes: context-relevant and adaptable coordination mechanisms; coordination to support GBV service delivery; and stakeholders’ roles, legitimacy and power. Results Parallel response frameworks developed to address the multiple crises, created a complex humanitarian architecture within an increasingly challenging operating context, with some perceived inefficiencies. Positively, coordination was integrated under the established government-UN interagency system and the GBV task force maintained GBV sub-sector coordination. The task force was commended for effectively adapting to the evolving context, including working remotely, maintaining essential GBV services, assessing the compounded crises’ impact on programming and adjusting accordingly, and harmonising guidance, tools and approaches. The importance of ensuring a government co-led response was highlighted by both UN and government informants, who pointed to examples where marginalising government leadership compromised coordination effectiveness and sustainability. The participation of local actors had become increasingly important but more difficult, with the impact of the various crises, and remote modalities, challenging service delivery and staff wellbeing. Conclusion Experiences from Lebanon highlight the essential role of government leadership in coordination; the value of investing in local GBV capacity; the significance of effective national, subnational and intersectoral coordination to support service delivery and address cross-cutting GBV issues; the importance of targeted interventions to support marginalised populations; and the need to prioritize the well-being of front-line staff during crisis response. In Lebanon, and other complex crises, donors are encouraged to increase flexible, multiyear funding for GBV coordination and services, while women-led organizations should be at the forefront of recovery efforts, contributing to a more equitable society.

Background: While all women are at risk of gender-based violence (GBV), it is essential to acknowledge that women are not a homogenous group and that women who are Deaf may experience GBV differently. This study aimed to answer the question: What are the perceptions and experiences of GBV among women who are Deaf? Objectives: The study's objectives were to explore and describe these women's understanding of GBV terminology, their perceptions of GBV and challenges regarding support strategies in place to respond to their unique circumstances. Method: A qualitative study with four workshops was conducted with 60 participants. The data collected were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The results yielded three themes that intrinsically spoke to women's understanding of GBV terminology, perception of GBV and challenges accessing support. The results highlight that women who are Deaf are at a greater risk of GBV. Participants emphasised the importance of exploring the perceptions of GBV among men who are Deaf. Findings also indicated women's challenges when seeking support. Conclusion: The findings underscore the necessity of offering specific assistance to Deaf women facing GBV. Based on the study findings, it can be concluded that those providing support in GBV matters should receive specialised training in GBV, including Deaf culture and South African sign language. Contribution: The study findings contribute to the field of disability and the development of effective GBV strategies and programmes that are inclusive of women who are Deaf within a South African context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractDeeply rooted cultural beliefs and norms relating to the position and the responsibilities assigned to men and women play a significant role in propagating intimate partner violence (IPV). It is yet to be understood in what ways experiences of IPV contribute to how people socially construct their health and wellbeing as they navigate the tensions created by the prevailing sociocultural systems. To address this knowledge gap, we employed a social constructionist perspective and the eco-social model to explore how Kenyans aged 25–49 years socially construct their health and wellbeing in relation to their experiences of IPV. We conducted nine in-depth interviews and ten focus group discussions in four counties in Kenya between January and April of 2017. Textual analysis of the narratives reveals that although men are usually framed as perpetrators of violence, they may also be victims of reciprocal aggression by women, as recently witnessed in cases where women retaliate through gang attacks, chopping of male genitalia, and scalding with water. However, women are still disproportionately affected by gender-based violence because of the deeply rooted gender imbalances in patriarchal societies. Women experience social stigma associated with such violence and when separated or divorced in situations of unsafe relationships, they are viewed as social misfits. As such, most women opt to stay in unhealthy relationships to avoid social isolation. These experiences are not only unhealthy for their psychological wellbeing but also for their physical health and socioeconomic status and that of their offspring.

Background: Conflicts exacerbate dynamics of power and inequalities through violence normalization, which acts as a facilitator for conflict-related sexual violence. Literature addressing its negative outcomes on survivors is scant. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the qualitative evidence reported in scientific literature and focusing on the negative consequences of conflict-related sexual violence on victims' physical, psychological, and social dimensions of health in a gender-inclusive and disaggregated form. Methods: A literature search was conducted on January 13, 2023 on Pubmed, Scopus, and PsychArticles. The search strings combined two blocks of terms related to sexual violence and conflict. A time filter was applied, limiting the search to studies published in the last ten years. Information regarding the main characteristics and design of the study, survivors and their experience, and about conflict-related sexual violence was collected. The negative consequences of conflict-related sexual violence on the physical, psychological, and social dimension of victims were extracted according to the Biopsychosocial model of health. The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews and relied on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses. Results: After full text review, 23 articles met the inclusion criteria, with 18 of them reporting negative repercussions on physical health, all of them highlighting adverse psychological outcomes, and 21 disclosing unfavorable social consequences. The negative outcomes described in multiple studies were sexual and reproductive health issues, the most mentioned being pregnancy, manifestations of symptoms attributable to post-traumatic stress disorder, and stigma. A number of barriers to access to care were presented as emerging findings. Conclusions: This review provided an analysis of the negative consequences of conflict-related sexual violence on survivors, thus highlighting the importance of qualitative evidence in understanding these outcomes and addressing barriers to access to care. Conflict-related sexual violence is a sexual and reproductive health issue. Sexuality education is needed at individual, community, and provider level, challenging gender norms and roles and encompassing gender-based violence. Gender-inclusive protocols and services need to be implemented to address the specific needs of all victims. Governments should advocate for SRHRs and translate health policies into services targeting survivors of CRSV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since 2019 Lebanon has faced multiple compounded crises. Political and social instability, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Beirut Port explosion, alongside the influx of refugees related to the ongoing Syrian conflict, have resulted in a nationwide economic emergency. In the context of the humanitarian response to the Syrian conflict, the UN and government-led gender-based violence (GBV) task force has coordinated the sub-sector since 2012. The compounded crisis, however, created new challenges for GBV coordination and service delivery, which we explore in this paper. We highlight lessons for strengthening GBV coordination in Lebanon and other complex emergencies. Methods: We conducted 29 remote in-depth interviews, reviewed key policy documents and observed seven GBV task force meetings. We analysed and presented our findings across three key themes: context-relevant and adaptable coordination mechanisms; coordination to support GBV service delivery; and stakeholders' roles, legitimacy and power. Results: Parallel response frameworks developed to address the multiple crises, created a complex humanitarian architecture within an increasingly challenging operating context, with some perceived inefficiencies. Positively, coordination was integrated under the established government-UN interagency system and the GBV task force maintained GBV sub-sector coordination. The task force was commended for effectively adapting to the evolving context, including working remotely, maintaining essential GBV services, assessing the compounded crises' impact on programming and adjusting accordingly, and harmonising guidance, tools and approaches. The importance of ensuring a government co-led response was highlighted by both UN and government informants, who pointed to examples where marginalising government leadership compromised coordination effectiveness and sustainability. The participation of local actors had become increasingly important but more difficult, with the impact of the various crises, and remote modalities, challenging service delivery and staff wellbeing. Conclusion: Experiences from Lebanon highlight the essential role of government leadership in coordination; the value of investing in local GBV capacity; the significance of effective national, subnational and intersectoral coordination to support service delivery and address cross-cutting GBV issues; the importance of targeted interventions to support marginalised populations; and the need to prioritize the well-being of front-line staff during crisis response. In Lebanon, and other complex crises, donors are encouraged to increase flexible, multiyear funding for GBV coordination and services, while women-led organizations should be at the forefront of recovery efforts, contributing to a more equitable society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In all domains of society, from health to the economy, security, and human rights, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are amplified for women and girls simply due to the issues associated with gender-based violence. This article will, therefore, explore international organisations and non-governmental organisations' commitment to ending violence against women in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. To analyse this phenomenon, this article will first focus on the current necessity to make more efforts towards implementing a gender perspective in the field of humanitarian action. This would allow for women's needs to be better targeted and could also enable them to be better included as actors in this process. Then, this article will highlight the involvement of different organisations in the fight against gender-based violence in parallel to the different programmes put forward in the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5. Consequently, after assessing the current actions made in the aftermath of the pandemic, this article will conclude by putting forth potential prospects for future progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

North Korean (NK) refugee women report a disproportionately high rate of suicide compared to the general South Korean (SK) population. NK refugee women's exposure to gender-based violence (GBV) is a risk factor for adverse mental health symptoms. However, the association between GBV exposure and mental health has received less scholarly attention. This study examined NK refugee women's exposure to GBV (i.e., sexual violence, human trafficking, and forced sex work) and explored whether it is associated with an increased risk of depression, alcohol misuse, and suicide attempts. A three-way interaction between depression, alcohol misuse, and suicide attempts among GBV-exposed NK refugee women was examined. Data from a snowball sample of 180NK refugee women were analyzed for this study. Findings show that 47.8% experienced GBV in either NK or intermediary countries. Multivariate analyses revealed that depression (OR = 1.13, p <.05) and alcohol misuse (OR = 3.01, p <.01) was significantly associated with suicide attempts in GBV-exposed groups. Results from the three-way interaction (GBV victimization × Depression × Alcohol misuse) suggest that GBV exposure and higher levels of depression were significantly associated with suicide attempts among NK refugee women with greater severity of alcohol misuse (OR = 1.75, p <.05). The findings indicate that NK refugee women with GBV exposure, depression, and alcohol misuse are at increased risk for suicide attempts. Study limitations included the use of snowball sampling and cross-sectional data. This study discusses implications for future research and targeted, trauma-informed treatments focused on GBV and mental health symptoms among NK refugee women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, most African countries avoided open alignment with either Russia or Ukraine, favoring a wait-and-see approach until the situation’s consequences for African households, energy security, and the agricultural sector became more evident. Using the nexus between world systems and dependency theories as an analytical tool, this study examines how African governments have responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and how the continent has been affected by the war. This examination is accomplished via a qualitative analysis of primary data such as reports issued by independent international organizations, think tanks, and media houses. Furthermore, the analysis is complemented by secondary sources such as media reports and expert crisis analysis. This study argues that although Africa as a continent and African women in particular, by virtue of occupying the periphery of world politics, have been marginalized in decision-making regarding the war, they have nevertheless been negatively impacted by the war. Lacking agency in world affairs, the continent has responded to the war in a disjointed way without considering the voices and input of African women, who are increasingly bearing the brunt of the global impact of the war. Consequently, Africa, led by patriarchal leadership via the African Union (AU), has struggled to abide by its continental charter principles of noninterference and remain committed to its tradition of nonalignment in international affairs. The continent has not been impervious to the negative impact of the conflict because of its structural dependence on countries in the global core. Politically, the war has resulted in further marginalization of the continent and its women due to the continent’s lack of agency. Economically, the conflict has led to rising energy costs, inflation, and food insecurity, all of which disproportionately affect African women. Socially, the conflict has disrupted the academic life of African students in Ukraine, with women students particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence. The research calls for the inclusion of more African women’s voices in decision-making at the AU, as African women and girls bear the brunt of most global crises such as war. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents and critically interrogates a comprehensive 7Ps framework for analysing and addressing gender-based violence. It takes the UN and the Council of Europe's models as points of departure and develops the framework beyond the current state of the art, explains its different components, and offers reflections on its use in the practice of gender-based violence research. The UN 3P model, encompassing prevention, protection, and prosecution, later developed by the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention into a 4P model, comprising prevention, protection, prosecution, and integrated policies, has since been revisited, elaborated upon, and expanded in work focusing on gender-based violence in particular domains, such as female genital mutilation or gender-based violence in sport. To study gender-based violence in academia, the comprehensive 7Ps analytical framework has been deployed to interrogate the policies in place at national and institutional levels, including sexual harassment. Based on empirical data and conceptual analysis in the EU project UniSAFE: Gender-based violence and institutional responses: Building a knowledge base and operational tools to make universities and research organisations safe (2021–2024), the paper argues that the refined 7Ps model, comprising Prevalence, Prevention, Protection, Prosecution of offenders (and disciplinary measures), Provision of services, Partnerships between actors, and Policies specifically addressing the issue, allows for a more encompassing approach, in turn allowing a more fine-grained understanding of variations and explanations for success (or lack thereof) in terms of outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disasters impact individuals differently according to gender, age, disability and class. A smooth transition from post-disaster to regular periods may be important. This study examines the role and challenges of female-friendly spaces (FFSs) as an entry point for help-seeking pathways evinced by the post-earthquake activities of women's organizations in Nepal. The major challenges of FFSs are examined based on the example of Sahayatri Samaj Nepal, a service provider engaged in FFSs operations in Dhading District. There are five major barriers for the service providers to respond to gender- based violence (GBV) effectively: logistical challenges, lack of information, fear of stigma, low service expectations, and lack of vital certificates to exercise rights. The change brought about by the FFS work so far was limited at the individual level, not directly making a difference at the structural level relating to issues of vital certificates and other wider societal problems. To build societies back better, the work done by the FFS in the post-disaster period should be relayed to advocacy work for structural change. Therefore, rural FFSs should not cease functioning shortly after the disaster but should be available in different forms during regular periods. Such sustained efforts continued through post-disaster to normal periods alone will keep women's awareness of GBV high and make changes at the structural level possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pentecostal Christians in Africa preach a pragmatic gospel that attempts to address social, practical and contextual concerns. Similar patterns may be seen in the emergence of neo-Pentecostalism in South Africa and other parts of the continent. Neo-Pentecostalism is commonly known for the use of God-talk that promises people solutions to their socio-economic issues such as unemployment and poverty if they obey the prescripts of the so-called ‘prophets’ or ‘man of God’. Nonetheless, the global devastation caused by the COVID-19 left much to be desired. In South Africa, it highlighted the high extent of gender-based violence (GBV) in addition to other societal issues. Although GBV has always been a problem in South Africa, its cases increased drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic to the point where GBV was also declared a pandemic. This has compelled various social structures to start exploring solutions to stop this conundrum. The overarching question posed in this article was how neo-Pentecostal rhetoric about God contributes to GBV cases in South Africa before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, given that God-talk has been utilised to influence people’s perceptions of and reactions to other societal concerns. As a result, this article aimed to investigate this subject while also outlining some potential solutions that African Pentecostals can consider as possible contributions to the struggle against GBV in contemporary South Africa. The study used a literature analysis to achieve this goal and it followed an interdisciplinary approach in the collection of the relevant data. These disciplines included theology, social sciences gender and sexuality studies. Therefore, the literature analysis focused on how neo-Pentecostalism intersect with gender and social issues that are actors in the rise of GBV in South Africa. Furthermore, the concept of God-talk was adopted as a theoretical framework guiding the discussion in this article, whilst the African ethic of Ubuntu [humanness] was proposed as an antidote that can be used in transforming God-talk and contributors of GBV in church and society. Ubuntu brings to consciousness that pastors and every member of society should treat each other as created in the image of God and with respect and humanness as we all exist because of and for others. Contributions: This article contributes to the body of knowledge aimed at finding solutions to GBV in South Africa. Finding solutions is critical as GBV continue to be a challenge in South Africa and elsewhere.

Abstract Background Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global health, human rights, and protection issue, which can increase during emergencies. GBV coordination is an essential component of every humanitarian response, ensuring that, from the earliest phases of a crisis, accessible and safe services are available and prevention and mitigation mechanisms are implemented to reduce GBV. We sought to address the limited evidence on GBV coordination, by reviewing literature on GBV coordination in emergencies, identifying facilitators and barriers influencing effectiveness. Methods We conducted a scoping review on GBV coordination in emergencies from 1990 to 2020. Studies explicitly discussing GBV coordination in humanitarian, natural disaster and public health emergencies, in low or middle-income countries, were included. Using thematic analysis, we developed a six-topic framework to synthesise evidence on effective GBV coordination and present recommendations for strengthening GBV coordination in emergencies. Findings We included 28 of 964 sources identified, covering 30 different emergency settings across 22 countries. Sources spanned emergency settings, with minimal evidence in public health emergencies and none focussed solely on GBV coordination. Several sources suggested that timely establishment of GBV coordination mechanisms, led by dedicated, experienced coordinators, increased funding and strengthened service provision. GBV risk mitigation was compromised by weak commitment across sectors, poor accountability systems, and limited engagement of affected women. Inclusive GBV coordination, involving national and local actors is vital but engagement efforts have been inadequate and localisation funding targets not yet achieved. Implementation of the GBV Information Management System has reinforced coordination, funding allocation and service provision. While specialist GBV services remain insufficient, emergencies can present opportunities for expansion. Sustainability and long-term impact are compromised by over-reliance on international leadership and funding, weak commitment by governments, and limited attention to GBV prevention. Conclusion Despite enhanced global commitments to addressing GBV in recent years, it remains consistently under-prioritised and under-resourced. Recommendations to strengthen GBV coordination in emergencies include: funding dedicated GBV coordination positions across all types of emergencies, building the global GBV coordination workforce, expanding inclusion of national actors and investing in GBV risk mitigation and prevention through multiyear funding. The evidence-based framework for effective GBV coordination presented here, can guide further research in diverse emergencies.

Mozambique introduced guidelines for integrated gender-based violence (GBV) services in 2012. In 2017, we trained providers on empathetic and supportive services to GBV survivors and introduced home-based services for survivors who are loss-to-follow up. Rate ratios of clinic visits were compared before and after intervention initiation, using exact significance tests. Data of 1,806 GBV survivors were reviewed, with a total of 2005 events. The median age was 23 years (IQR 17–30) and 89% were women. Among those reporting violence, 69% reported physical violence, 18% reported sexual violence (SV), and 12% reported psychological violence. Rates of care-seeking behavior were higher in the intervention period (rate ratio 1.31 [95%CI: 1.18–1.46]); p < 0.01. Among those eligible for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), 94% initiated PEP. Uptake of HIV retesting improved in percentage points by 34% (14% to 48%), 34% (8% to 42%) and 26% (5% to 31%) at 1-, 3- and 6-months, respectively. The intervention led to an increase in the rate of GBV survivors seeking health care services, and improved rates of follow-up care among SV survivors initiating PEP. Strengthening of PEP adherence counseling remains crucial for improving GBV services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in South Africa is a post-colonial social ill. Women and young girls suffer double oppression in the country. First, they are oppressed for being women and young girls; and second, they are oppressed for being women and young girls of the lower class. This article aims to utilise one selected isiZulu and isiXhosa drama, respectively, to effectuate a meticulous examination of how and why GBV is a recurring pattern. The ultimate aim is to underline the unprejudiced reality that South African literature (isiZulu and isiXhosa, for example) engages contemporary social ills such as GBV, subordination of women and young girls, gender discrepancies, and neolithic stereotypes. African feminist technique is utilised as a conceptual framework to advance the said aims of the article. In the process, the qualitative research methodology is employed to describe and explain the nature of the data source. The discussions and findings demonstrate that although women and gender discourses research has been undertaken extensively, the fact that women and young girls continue to be tormented is enough to prove that there is a conundrum in South Africa and possibly, elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fact that there are continued public reports of abuse and violence against women and young girls in South Africa, and elsewhere in the global village, is enough to underline that gender-based violence (GBV) is profoundly entrenched in social and human settings. Considering this, it stands to reason to recurrently contest this challenge relying on isiXhosa literature, among other mechanisms. In fact, violence against women and young girls has been regarded by several scholars, government and non-governmental organisations, and community members as an international crisis. On account of this, this article critiques how self-defence and battered woman syndrome (BWS) are reproduced in a selected isiXhosa short story titled "Umfazi Akayongqongqo" (A woman is not a punching bag). This short story is recognised herein as a primary source of data, while African feminist theory is applied to uncover the complexities pertaining to self-defence and BWS as they emerge as a direct consequence of prolonged incidents of GBV. The findings and discussions indicate that prolonged occurrences of abuse and violence towards women and young girls have the potential to lead to situations where victims of GBV cannot tolerate it any longer, hence resulting in retaliation, self-defence and BWS. While there are contrasting views concerning self-defence and BWS, particularly within the legal frameworks, this article underlines the necessity to strike a balance between these important social, cultural, and political issues in a bid to reasonably solve the conundrum--GBV. The concluding remarks present possible future scholarly discourses that may be considered in an attempt to address this challenge. For instance, it would be prudent to consider ways to decolonise isiXhosa literary scholarship, focusing on re-evaluating traditional canons, challenging Eurocentric voices and promoting indigenous African knowledge systems (IAKS). By the same token, it would be perceptive to examine how isiXhosa literature mirrors and responds to the legacies of colonialism, including matters related to identity, language, and cultural representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pentecostal Christians in Africa preach a pragmatic gospel that attempts to address social, practical and contextual concerns. Similar patterns may be seen in the emergence of neo-Pentecostalism in South Africa and other parts of the continent. Neo-Pentecostalism is commonly known for the use of God-talk that promises people solutions to their socio-economic issues such as unemployment and poverty if they obey the prescripts of the so-called 'prophets' or 'man of God'. Nonetheless, the global devastation caused by the COVID-19 left much to be desired. In South Africa, it highlighted the high extent of gender-based violence (GBV) in addition to other societal issues. Although GBV has always been a problem in South Africa, its cases increased drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic to the point where GBV was also declared a pandemic. This has compelled various social structures to start exploring solutions to stop this conundrum. The overarching question posed in this article was how neo-Pentecostal rhetoric about God contributes to GBV cases in South Africa before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, given that God-talk has been utilised to influence people's perceptions of and reactions to other societal concerns. As a result, this article aimed to investigate this subject while also outlining some potential solutions that African Pentecostals can consider as possible contributions to the struggle against GBV in contemporary South Africa. The study used a literature analysis to achieve this goal and it followed an interdisciplinary approach in the collection of the relevant data. These disciplines included theology, social sciences gender and sexuality studies. Therefore, the literature analysis focused on how neo-Pentecostalism intersect with gender and social issues that are actors in the rise of GBV in South Africa. Furthermore, the concept of God-talk was adopted as a theoretical framework guiding the discussion in this article, whilst the African ethic of Ubuntu [humanness] was proposed as an antidote that can be used in transforming God-talk and contributors of GBV in church and society. Ubuntu brings to consciousness that pastors and every member of society should treat each other as created in the image of God and with respect and humanness as we all exist because of and for others. Contributions: This article contributes to the body of knowledge aimed at finding solutions to GBV in South Africa. Finding solutions is critical as GBV continue to be a challenge in South Africa and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women with a Declaration (CEDAW) to Article 5(a) stating that it will implement the principle on gender-based equality only to the extent of non-interference in the personal affairs of its religious communities. The due diligence obligation in the CEDAW, which was adopted through General Recommendation No. 19 in 1992, normatively expanded Article 5 to imply an obligation on nation states to redress traditional cultural attitudes that cause gender-based violence. This article argues that the cultural nature of GBV in India converts the Declaration of India into an inconsistent reservation under public international law. This implies that India's Declaration is an egregious breach of the CEDAW's due diligence obligation. Accession to the CEDAW's Optional Protocol is advocated as a solution to this serious breach. Theoretical implications for the three-stage norm life cycle and epiphenomenal norms are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Korean refugee women are at risk of multiple violent victimizations throughout the migration phases. However, migration's association with mental health outcomes has received little scholarly attention. This study examined North Korean refugee women's exposure to polyvictimization—exposure to both gender-based violence (GBV) and intimate partner violence (IPV)—and explored whether polyvictimization is associated with an increased risk of psychological symptoms. Data from a snowball sample of 212 North Korean refugee women were analyzed. Polyvictimization was operationalized as No victimization (0), Only GBV (1), Only IPV (2), and Both GBV and IPV (3). The associations between polyvictimization and depression, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and alcohol use disorder were analyzed with multivariate analyses. Results demonstrated that 46.2% experienced GBV in either North Korea or intermediary countries, and 30.9% were victims of IPV from their current intimate partner in South Korea. Approximately 25% were victims of both GBV and IPV. Multivariate analyses revealed that GBV was the most critical factor for mental health outcomes. North Korean refugee women with only GBV or GBV and IPV had significantly higher depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation severity than those without violence victimization. Risk of suicide attempt was also significantly higher among those with only GBV (OR = 16.52, p =.015) or both GBV and IPV (OR = 9.96, p =.048) than those without any violence victimization. Implications for future research and interventions among North Korean refugee women are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Age-disparate transactional sex (ADTS) is associated with HIV, unintended pregnancy, school dropout and violence, yet few interventions have successfully prevented it, and none have set ADTS prevention as their primary outcome. This exploratory evaluation aimed to assess indications of change after exposure to the Learning Initiative on Norms, Exploitation and Abuse (LINEA) intervention, a mass-media, gender-transformative social norms intervention aimed at preventing ADTS in Tanzania. Methods: In a condensed implementation 331 participants were instructed to listen to the LINEA radio drama over seven weeks, and 60 were randomly allocated to household discussion sessions about content. In-depth interviews (n = 81) from girls aged 12-16 years, and women and men caregivers were collected at baseline (September 2021), midline (November) and endline (December 2021). Surveys were conducted (n = 120) at baseline and endline using the Norms and Attitudes on ADTS Scale (NAATSS) and the Gender Roles and Male Provision Expectations (GRMPE) scale. Interviews were thematically analyzed using a framework approach. Age-stratified linear regression models adjusted for baseline scores were used to measure association between the intervention and endline scale scores. Results: Longitudinal data were available from 59 qualitative (73%) and 95 quantitative participants (79%). Qualitative evidence revealed the drama facilitated family conversations about adolescent challenges, allowing caregivers to advise daughters. Some girls gained confidence to refuse men's gifts, learning that accepting them could necessitate sexual reciprocation. Some caregivers felt increased responsibility for supporting girls in the community to avoid ADTS. Blame for ADTS shifted for some from girls to men, suggesting increased understanding of inequitable power dynamics and reductions in victim blaming. Marginal quantitative evidence revealed that highly exposed girls had improved gender equitable beliefs on the GRMPE (ß = -6.26; 95% CI: -12.94, 0.42). Moderately exposed men had increased gender inequitable norms on the NAATSS subscale (ß = 0.42 95% CI: 0.05, 0.79), but there was no effect in highly exposed men. Conclusions: Given the small sample results should be interpreted cautiously. Our initial findings indicate high engagement with the LINEA intervention shows promise in shifting knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes, beliefs and social norms driving ADTS in Shinyanga, Tanzania, supporting a robust impact evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionAge-disparate transactional sex (ADTS) is associated with HIV, unintended pregnancy, school dropout and violence, yet few interventions have successfully prevented it, and none have set ADTS prevention as their primary outcome. This exploratory evaluation aimed to assess indications of change after exposure to the Learning Initiative on Norms, Exploitation and Abuse (LINEA) intervention, a mass-media, gender-transformative social norms intervention aimed at preventing ADTS in Tanzania.MethodsIn a condensed implementation 331 participants were instructed to listen to the LINEA radio drama over seven weeks, and 60 were randomly allocated to household discussion sessions about content. In-depth interviews (n = 81) from girls aged 12–16 years, and women and men caregivers were collected at baseline (September 2021), midline (November) and endline (December 2021). Surveys were conducted (n = 120) at baseline and endline using the Norms and Attitudes on ADTS Scale (NAATSS) and the Gender Roles and Male Provision Expectations (GRMPE) scale. Interviews were thematically analyzed using a framework approach. Age-stratified linear regression models adjusted for baseline scores were used to measure association between the intervention and endline scale scores.ResultsLongitudinal data were available from 59 qualitative (73%) and 95 quantitative participants (79%). Qualitative evidence revealed the drama facilitated family conversations about adolescent challenges, allowing caregivers to advise daughters. Some girls gained confidence to refuse men's gifts, learning that accepting them could necessitate sexual reciprocation. Some caregivers felt increased responsibility for supporting girls in the community to avoid ADTS. Blame for ADTS shifted for some from girls to men, suggesting increased understanding of inequitable power dynamics and reductions in victim blaming. Marginal quantitative evidence revealed that highly exposed girls had improved gender equitable beliefs on the GRMPE (β = −6.26; 95% CI: −12.94, 0.42). Moderately exposed men had increased gender inequitable norms on the NAATSS subscale (β = 0.42 95% CI: 0.05, 0.79), but there was no effect in highly exposed men.ConclusionsGiven the small sample results should be interpreted cautiously. Our initial findings indicate high engagement with the LINEA intervention shows promise in shifting knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes, beliefs and social norms driving ADTS in Shinyanga, Tanzania, supporting a robust impact evaluation.

There is a general perception that poverty and/or low income are the root causes of GBV in Zimbabwe. Efforts have been made to economically empower women in a bid to fight poverty and ultimately GBV, but research findings from Zimbabwe noted that GBV against women continues to rise in all societies, regardless of income levels. There is a paucity of literature comparing the causes of GBV among women in low- and high-income households in Zimbabwe. Therefore, the significance of this study is to close the information gap and proffer recommendations aimed at alleviating GBV against women. The study was conducted in Manicaland Province. The target population constituted men, women and adolescents aged 15 years and above. A semi-structured questionnaire-based survey was used to gather primary data. In Stata version 15.0, binary logit regression was used to analyze quantitative data, and narrative analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Marginal effects were then used to interpret logistic regression results. The results showed that age at marriage (ME = 0.22), access to media (ME = 0.12) and alcohol-drinking partner (ME = 0.24) were risk factors of GBV among low-income households. However, age (low-income-ME = 0.01; high-income-ME = 0.01); and spouse controlling behaviour (low-income-ME = 0.27; high-income-ME = 0.24) were significant causes of GBV for both low- and high-income households. Based on these findings, it is recommended that law enforcement agencies be capacitated to enhance enforcement of child marriage-related statutes, stiffer penalties and fines are instigated for people who cause violence under the influence of alcohol and communities be conscientious, especially through media against age and gender discrimination.

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global health, human rights, and protection issue, which can increase during emergencies. GBV coordination is an essential component of every humanitarian response, ensuring that, from the earliest phases of a crisis, accessible and safe services are available and prevention and mitigation mechanisms are implemented to reduce GBV. We sought to address the limited evidence on GBV coordination, by reviewing literature on GBV coordination in emergencies, identifying facilitators and barriers influencing effectiveness. Methods: We conducted a scoping review on GBV coordination in emergencies from 1990 to 2020. Studies explicitly discussing GBV coordination in humanitarian, natural disaster and public health emergencies, in low or middle-income countries, were included. Using thematic analysis, we developed a six-topic framework to synthesise evidence on effective GBV coordination and present recommendations for strengthening GBV coordination in emergencies. Findings: We included 28 of 964 sources identified, covering 30 different emergency settings across 22 countries. Sources spanned emergency settings, with minimal evidence in public health emergencies and none focussed solely on GBV coordination. Several sources suggested that timely establishment of GBV coordination mechanisms, led by dedicated, experienced coordinators, increased funding and strengthened service provision. GBV risk mitigation was compromised by weak commitment across sectors, poor accountability systems, and limited engagement of affected women. Inclusive GBV coordination, involving national and local actors is vital but engagement efforts have been inadequate and localisation funding targets not yet achieved. Implementation of the GBV Information Management System has reinforced coordination, funding allocation and service provision. While specialist GBV services remain insufficient, emergencies can present opportunities for expansion. Sustainability and long-term impact are compromised by over-reliance on international leadership and funding, weak commitment by governments, and limited attention to GBV prevention. Conclusion: Despite enhanced global commitments to addressing GBV in recent years, it remains consistently under-prioritised and under-resourced. Recommendations to strengthen GBV coordination in emergencies include: funding dedicated GBV coordination positions across all types of emergencies, building the global GBV coordination workforce, expanding inclusion of national actors and investing in GBV risk mitigation and prevention through multiyear funding. The evidence-based framework for effective GBV coordination presented here, can guide further research in diverse emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender-based violence (GBV) toward women is widespread and has been associated with increased HIV risk. We investigated attitudes toward GBV among men living in Rustenburg, South Africa, who were enrolled in a longitudinal HIV incidence study. Participants were 18 to 49 years old, reported high risk sexual activity in the last 3 months, and were HIV-uninfected. Attitudes toward GBV were evaluated using responses to a five-item standardized questionnaire about men perpetrating physical violence on a female spouse; responses to each item were scaled from 1 (no agreement) to 4 (strong agreement) and summed. Total scores >10 were considered permissive toward GBV. Among the 535 men analyzed, nearly half (N = 229, 42.8%) had a GBV score >10. Being young (18–24 years) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.06, 2.22]), having less years of education (aOR = 1.61, 95% CI [1.11, 2.32]), and reporting no current sexual partner at baseline (aOR = 2.10, 95% CI [1.06, 4.14]) were independently associated with permissive attitudes toward GBV. The following behaviors reported in the last 3 months were also associated with high GBV scores: having a new female partner (aOR = 1.78, 95% CI [1.02, 3.10]), and having had an STI (aOR = 1.85, 95% CI [1.15, 2.99]). Consuming alcohol prior to sex in the last month (aOR = 1.59, 95% CI [1.09, 2.31]) was also associated with high GBV scores. A large proportion of South African HIV-uninfected men in this analysis reported permissive attitudes toward GBV. These attitudes were associated with HIV risk behavior. Integrating GBV and HIV prevention programs is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundEpidemics and other complex emergencies historically have had a disproportionate impact on women and girls, increasing their vulnerability to gender-based violence (GBV). The COVID-19 pandemic has been no different, with reports of rising cases of GBV emerging worldwide. Already a significant problem in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and South Africa, GBV in these countries has been exacerbated by government restrictions intended to contain the spread of COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the availability of GBV prevention and response services from the perspective of the organizations that provide them.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey of people who work in GBV prevention and response in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and South Africa was administered from July to October 2020. A convenience sample was identified through web search, contacts of in-country consultants, and relevant listservs and technical working groups. Descriptive analyses were completed using SPSS.ResultsA total of 187 respondents completed the survey. Nearly all (98.9%) survey respondents reported that COVID-19 impacted their work. The majority (77.9%) stated that work decreased due to government restrictions or GBV services being deemed non-essential. The types of service most impacted were community-based prevention, shelters, and legal services. Survey respondents overwhelmingly agreed (99.3%) that COVID-19 impacted GBV prevalence and identified adolescents and women with disabilities as particularly vulnerable groups.ConclusionsGBV prevention and response services in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and South Africa were highly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, largely due to government restrictions and the failure of governments to deem GBV services as essential. Preparedness for future crises should ensure that GBV is adequately prioritized in the initial response in order to maintain service availability with special attention paid to at-risk populations.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacts all aspects of life. While the focus is biased towards the direct health and economic impacts associated with the pandemic, there is increasing concern and recognition that the current crisis has had differential impacts and that those who are vulnerable, are more likely to bear the brunt of the unintended consequences of the lockdown and other measures to curb the spread of the virus. The COVID-19 pandemic has been foregrounded as a 'perfect storm' that creates the ideal conditions for current and increasing rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa. There is, however, limited focus on GBV impacts in rural areas and on home-based learning which is likely to be the norm in the near future. Drawing on secondary data sources, this study illustrates the extent and nature of GBV prevalent in South Africa, and identifies vulnerability factors in rural areas that create high-risk levels for GBV. Thereafter, the paper examines the impacts of GBV on learners' and students' abilities to study from home during the lockdown and if continued efforts to manage the spread of the virus requires stay-at-home requirements. The factors that influence vulnerability (including household size, alcohol and drug use, access to support systems, culturally-based patriarchal notions of gender roles in relation to domestic chores, gendered ownership and access to crucial learning resources, etc.) are identified, and impacts the ability of females to study from home examined. Recommendations are forwarded that include the need for increased GBV support, rethinking modes of teaching and learning, access to adequate services and infrastructure, and radical change to address the structural and systemic factors that create the conditions for GBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a general perception that poverty and/or low income are the root causes of GBV in Zimbabwe. Efforts have been made to economically empower women in a bid to fight poverty and ultimately GBV, but research findings from Zimbabwe noted that GBV against women continues to rise in all societies, regardless of income levels. There is a paucity of literature comparing the causes of GBV among women in low- and high-income households in Zimbabwe. Therefore, the significance of this study is to close the information gap and proffer recommendations aimed at alleviating GBV against women. The study was conducted in Manicaland Province. The target population constituted men, women and adolescents aged 15 years and above. A semi-structured questionnaire-based survey was used to gather primary data. In Stata version 15.0, binary logit regression was used to analyze quantitative data, and narrative analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Marginal effects were then used to interpret logistic regression results. The results showed that age at marriage (ME = 0.22), access to media (ME = 0.12) and alcohol-drinking partner (ME = 0.24) were risk factors of GBV among low-income households. However, age (low-income-ME = 0.01; high-income-ME = 0.01); and spouse controlling behaviour (low-income-ME = 0.27; high-income-ME = 0.24) were significant causes of GBV for both low- and high-income households. Based on these findings, it is recommended that law enforcement agencies be capacitated to enhance enforcement of child marriage-related statutes, stiffer penalties and fines are instigated for people who cause violence under the influence of alcohol and communities be conscientious, especially through media against age and gender discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender is well-recognized as a social characteristic associated with increased susceptibility to adverse outcomes in disaster contexts, with cisgender women and gender and sexual minorities being recognized as high-risk populations. One of the most distressing gendered impacts observed across the globe during disasters, including the COVID-19 pandemic, is an increase in gender-based violence (GBV) affecting women. While the body of knowledge about gender and GBV in disaster contexts has been growing since the 1990s, more attention has been given to these issues in international disaster and humanitarian response settings, rather than in industrialized nation contexts. The goal of this systematic review was to establish the nature and scope of peer-reviewed research on gender and GBV in disasters within the Canadian context. For this review, we searched the EBSCOhost and ProQuest databases as well as Google Scholar records to identify journal articles addressing gender and disaster, including GBV in disaster. Of the 553 records initially meeting our search criteria, 25 articles were eligible for inclusion in the final review. Only nine of these articles were published before the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of studies included in our review were generally consistent with identified themes in the broader body of literature. This review provides a baseline of the state of the published research on gender and disaster, with specific attention to GBV in the Canadian context as of 2023. There is a moral imperative to give further attention to researching the gendered impacts of disaster, as this body of knowledge has the potential to lead to improved outcomes for populations at disproportionate risk for adverse impacts during disaster events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the central role played by faculty as teachers, advocates, and policymakers in addressing gender-based violence (GBV) within higher education institutions (HEIs), their experiences have received limited attention in the context of India. The study seeks to fill this research gap by exploring teaching faculty's (n=10) experiences with addressing GBV at a public HEI in Delhi (India) through the use of narrative inquiry. Analysis of data from a pilot interview with an associate professor at the college reveals that female students who experience GBV typically refuse to lodge a formal complaint due to the fear of social stigma, and advocating for them in the absence of institutional support takes a psychological toll on the faculty. Further, safeguarding the college's reputation is a key concern for the organization, which often dissuades victims from coming forward. The preliminary findings highlight the need for greater institutional support for HEI faculty in India to advocate for survivors of GBV and draw attention to the nexus between the gendered social structure at the macro level and institutional/personal responses to GBV at the meso and micro level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian Government and policymakers remain more occupied by the Covid-19 lockdown's impact on financial crisis and the economy than on social issues such as gender-based violence (GBV) especially against women. From academic and nonacademic studies, we can fairly observe that the current pandemic has rightly grasped gender-based measurements in terms of justice and mitigation of the problem at every stage of the Covid-19, mainly during the lockdown periods. Women are already carrying out a significant proportion of the household work burden during the lockdown, escalating tensions related to the crunch in resource and space, are creating gender-based violence behind closed doors. Many of the vulnerable women, mostly employed in informal economic sectors and with negligible technological capital under lockdown, are denied entrance to the usual forms of mental and physical refuge as supplied by relatives, friends, and health-care system. The danger of gender-based violence for these women remain inside their own family set-ups. The article will examine how Covid-19 lockdown aggravated gender-based violence (GBV) in general (Sen, N., Singh Roy, A., Bagchi, S. S., 2020). It will also try to examine the policies to solve the intense problem based on previous academic and non-academic studies and reports. The pandemic has brought a catastrophic effect on higher education (HE) in India as the students are now facing marginalization, deteriorating mental health conditions and uncertain future. The schools, colleges and universities are closed for more than six months. The abrupt closure of colleges and universities and the concomitant shift towards online teaching is creating further digital divides and marginalization. Several female students are facing the maximum brunt of the pandemic as their confinement within households in addition to their family's deteriorating financial conditions are creating increasing pressures on them to leave HE to get married or take up jobs. Their plights are further compounded by increased pressure to do household chores and subjection to domestic abuses. A systematic review of literature on the impact of Covid-19 on gender-based violence within the Indian context will be undertaken. Keywords will be defined based on a specific inclusion criterion, which will be used to generate relevant qualitative and quantitative studies. Following further screening of studies to verify suitability, appropriate data on gender-based violence induced by the Covid-19 situation will be extracted. A narrative synthesis or meta-analysis will be applied to systematically combine the data from several studies to enable a robust evidence-based analysis. Summary of results and visualisations will also be carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pandemics and government-imposed restrictions to control them, such as quarantines and school closures, exacerbate gender-based inequalities and increases exposure of women and girls to gender-based violence (GBV). The impacts of these adverse outcomes are further heightened due to diminished access to comprehensive GBV services, as governments redirect resources towards the emergency and deprioritise services such as GBV. Early reports suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic is no different, with GBV surging as governments imposed restrictive policies. In response, we conducted a rapid study in Kenya and interviewed 37 GBV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) stakeholders from different sectors and types of organisations to understand how COVID-19 containment polices were impacting harder-to-reach women and girls, as well as availability and access to services and programmes. As the Government of Kenya imposed restrictive policies to contain the spread of COVID-19, comprehensive GBV services were not deemed essential in the beginning. The government turned its attention to GBV only after reports of rising GBV in the early months of the pandemic led to advocacy by GBV stakeholders. Even then, the government's response was ad hoc, and lacking sector-specific guidelines to ensure availability of comprehensive GBV services and programmes. Ultimately, this led to confusion and large-scale disruption in the availability of GBV services and programmes on the ground. Kenyan women and girls will pay the price of this negligence, and some may never fully recover from experienced adverse outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite increasing calls to integrate and prioritise sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in universal health coverage (UHC) processes, several SRH services have remained a low priority in countries’ UHC plans. This study aims to understand the priority-setting process of SRH interventions in the context of UHC, drawing on the Malaysian experience. A realist evaluation framework was adopted to examine the priority-setting process for three SRH tracer interventions: pregnancy, safe delivery and post-natal care; gender-based violence (GBV) services; and abortion-related services. The study used a qualitative multi-method design, including a literature and document review, and 20 in-depth key informant interviews, to explore the context–mechanism–outcome configurations that influenced and explained the priority-setting process. Four key advocacy strategies were identified for the effective prioritisation of SRH services, namely: (1) generating public demand and social support, (2) linking SRH issues with public agendas or international commitments, (3) engaging champions that are internal and external to the public health sector, and (4) reframing SRH issues as public health issues. While these strategies successfully triggered mechanisms, such as mutual understanding and increased buy-in of policymakers to prioritise SRH services, the level and extent of prioritisation was affected by both inner and outer contextual factors, in particular the socio-cultural and political context. Priority-setting is a political decision-making process that reflects societal values and norms. Efforts to integrate SRH services in UHC processes need both to make technical arguments and to find strategies to overcome barriers related to societal values (including certain socio-cultural and religious norms). This is particularly important for sensitive SRH services, like GBV and safe abortion, and for certain populations.

Homelessness is an important risk factor for gender-based violence (GBV), particularly among youth, and disproportionally affects women and girls. Survivors of GBV experience enduring and severe physical, psychological, and sexual health problems. Although key elements in service delivery for survivors of GBV have been identified, little is known about outcomes of community-based programs aiming to assist homeless and unstably housed youth experiencing GBV. This longitudinal study aimed to quantitatively evaluate changes in mental health and well-being outcomes in female identified youth experiencing GBV and homelessness, 12 months after enrolment in a community-based, trauma-informed, brief group psychoeducation intervention. Standardized survey measures were administered at baseline, 6 and 12 months for 70 participants, recruited between February 2017 and April 2019, assessing quality of life, psychological distress, traumatic symptoms, substance use, resilience, victimization, and sense of mastery. Linear mixed models were used to examine longitudinal changes in quality of life as well as secondary outcomes among study participants. After 12 months, quality of life increased significantly among participants (p = 0.009), and the 12-month victimization score was significantly decreased relative to baseline (p = 0.05). Changes in other outcomes were not statistically significant. Findings suggest that community-based brief group psychoeducation interventions may be a promising approach to improving outcomes for this disadvantaged population.