The impact of COVID‐19 on services for people affected by sexual and gender‐based violence

AbstractThis study aims to analyse the legal decision-making process in the Community of Valencia (Spain) regarding contentious divorces particularly with respect to parental authority (patria potestas), custody and visiting arrangements for children, and the opinions of mothers and fathers on the impact these judicial measures have had on their lives. It also considers the biases in these decisions produced by privileging the rights of the adults over those of the children. Three particular moments are studied: (1) the situation before the break-up, focusing on the invisible gender gap in care; (2) the judicial process, where we observe the impact of hidden gender-based violence and gender stereotypes; and (3) the situation post-decision, showing how any existing violence continues after divorce, by means of parental authority. The concept of ‘motherhood under threat’ is placed at the centre of these issues, where children’s voices are given the least attention.

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Creating a New Trail

Girlhood Studies ◽

10.3167/ghs.2019.120301 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. v-vi

Author(s):

Claudia Mitchell

Keyword(s):

Black Girls ◽

New Order ◽

Gender Based Violence ◽

Gender Nonconforming ◽

White Girls ◽

The Arts ◽

Gender Based ◽

And Gender ◽

The One ◽

The Impact

The concerns addressed by the authors in this issue point to the need for a reimagining of girlhood as it is currently framed by settler and carceral states. To quote the guest editors, Sandrina de Finney, Patricia Krueger-Henney, and Lena Palacios, “The very notions of girl and girlhood are embedded in a colonial privileging of white, cis-heteropatriarchal, ableist constructs of femininity bolstered by Euro-Western theories of normative child development that were—and still are—violently imposed on othered, non-white girls, queer, and gender-nonconforming bodies.” Indigenous-led initiatives in Canada, such as the Networks for Change: Girl-led ‘from the Ground up’ Policy-making to Address Sexual Violence in Canada and South Africa project, highlighted in four of the eight articles in this issue, along with the insights and recommendations offered in the articles that deal with the various positionalities and contexts of Latinx and Black girls, can be described as creating a new trail. In using the term trail, here, I am guided by the voices of the Indigenous researchers, activists, elders, and community scholars who participated in the conference called More Than Words in Addressing Sexual and Gender-based Violence: A Dialogue on the Impact of Indigenous-focused, Youthled Engagement Through the Arts on Families and Communities held in Montreal. Their use of the term trail suggests a new order, one that is balanced between the ancestors and spiritual teachings on the one hand, and contemporary spaces that need to be decolonized on the other with this initiative being guided by intergenerationality and a constant interrogation of language. The guest editors of this special issue and all the contributors have gone a long way on this newly named trail.

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Domestic violence: Evidence-based policies before and during the pandemic in Greece

Temida ◽

10.2298/tem2101003a ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 3-23

Author(s):

Vasiliki Artinopoulou

Keyword(s):

Domestic Violence ◽

Social Services ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Gender Based Violence ◽

The Public ◽

The Social ◽

Gender Based ◽

And Gender ◽

The Impact ◽

Critical Aspects

Domestic violence and gender-based violence has been studied and recognised for many years in Greece. Adequate legislation on the criminalization of domestic violence has been implemented since 2006 (Law 3500/2006 on the Confrontation of Domestic Violence). A network of support services has also operated across the country for many years, staffed with professionals trained in the gender-sensitive perspective. However, Greece still faces the impact of the economic crisis that started in 2010 and the critical aspects of the crisis from the reduction of the public budget imposed by the European institutions in the lives of the individuals, the victims and the providers of the social services have not been fully assessed yet. The COVID-19 pandemic created problems in the victims? access to social services and not only. The shadow pandemic describes the alarm on the increase of domestic violence during the pandemic and the isolation of the victims from the providers of social and psychological support. Addressing both the issue of domestic violence through a victim-centered approach before and during the pandemic in Greece and the need for the implementation of evidence-based policies are the general aims of the paper. To this, we present few findings from an original victimological online research on domestic violence during the first lockdown in the country (March to May 2020) and we justify the need for the implementation of evidence-based policies in the criminal justice system in Greece.

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Continuum of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Risks among Syrian Refugee Women and Girls in Lebanon

10.21203/rs.2.12094/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sophie Roupetz ◽

Garbern Stephanie ◽

Michael Saja ◽

Bergquist Harveen ◽

Glaesmer Heide ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Host Community ◽

First Person ◽

Gender Based Violence ◽

Refugee Women ◽

Syrian Refugee ◽

Wide Range ◽

Women And Girls ◽

Gender Based ◽

And Gender ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background: A myriad of factors including socio-economic hardships impact refugees, with females being additionally exposed to various forms of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The aim of this qualitative analysis was to provide new insight into the experiences of SGBV among Syrian refugee women and girls in Lebanon. Methods: The data are gained from a larger mixed-methods study, investigating the experiences of Syrian refugee girls in Lebanon, using an iPad and the data collection tool, SenseMaker ®. The survey intentionally did not ask direct questions about experiences of SGBV but instead enabled stories about SGBV to become apparent from a wide range of experiences in the daily lives of Syrian girls. F or this analysis, first-person stories by female respondents about experiences of SGBV were included in a thematic analysis. A random selection of male respondents who provided stories about the experiences of Syrian girls in Lebanon was also analyzed. Results: In total, 70 of the 327 first person stories from female respondents and 42 of the 159 stories shared by male respondents included dialogue on SGBV. While experiences of sexual harassment were mainly reported by females, male respondents were much more likely to talk explicitly about sexual exploitation. Due to different forms of SGBV risks in public, unmarried girls were at high risk of child marriage, whereas married girls more often experienced some form of IPV and/or DV. In abusive relationships, some girls continued to face violence as they sought divorces and attempted to flee unhealthy situations. Conclusions: This study contributes to existing literature by examining SGBV risks and experiences for refugees integrated into their host community, and also by incorporating the perceptions of men. Our findings shed light on the importance of recognizing the impact of SGBV on the family as a whole, in addition to each of the individual members and supports considering the cycle of SGBV not only across the woman ’ s lifespan but also across generations . Gendered differences in how SGBV was discussed may have implications for the design of future research focused on SGBV.

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Survey of violence against women at a refugee settlement in Uganda

Impact ◽

10.21820/23987073.2021.7.24 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 (7) ◽

pp. 24-25

Author(s):

Tamaki Hatano

Keyword(s):

Psychological Health ◽

Associate Professor ◽

Refugee Camps ◽

Gender Based Violence ◽

Humanitarian Emergencies ◽

Life Paths ◽

Physical And Psychological Health ◽

Gender Based ◽

And Gender ◽

The Impact

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) can have long-term repercussions on the mental and physical health of survivors. The threat of SGBV increases for women and girls in times of crisis and is on the rise in humanitarian emergencies. For example, women in refugee camps are at risk of SGBV. Associate Professor Tamaki Hatano is working to promote awareness of this situation and help establish a future where SGBV is eradicated. In her work, she conducts interviews with female refugees in order to hear their stories and learn of their experiences. At present, Hatano is studying the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement in Uganda. Although her work has been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2015 and 2016 she visited the Settlement and interviewed 30 women. In doing so, she found that SGBV, including rape and violence in the form of theft and threats, is pervasive. This work also highlighted the impact of SGBV on physical and psychological health and how it can alter life paths. This work confirmed to Hatano that there is a need for improved systems in place, including the establishment of a culture in which women feel safe reporting SGBV and also feel assured that their experiences will be taken seriously and that they will be protected. In enhancing awareness and understanding of SGBV, Hatano envisions a future where it is eradicated.

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Male and Female Perceptions and Experiences of Sexual and Gender-based Violence in South Kivu, Eastern DRC

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260520983301 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 088626052098330

Author(s):

Elyse J. Thulin ◽

Andrew Lustig ◽

Violette Perrotte ◽

Marx Lwabanya ◽

Tyler Evans

Keyword(s):

Sexual Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Physical Violence ◽

Gender Based Violence ◽

Community Based ◽

South Kivu ◽

Gender Based ◽

And Gender ◽

The Impact

Conflict settings are often the context of some of the highest rates of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Although women are disproportionately the victims of SGBV, they are not the only victims. Indirect impacts of SGBV also impact men, families, and communities. Examining SGBV as only a woman’s concern reinforces the hegemonic gender-binary view that SGBV somehow does not include men, who can be direct victims of SGBV, family members of female victims of SGBV, and/or perpetrators of SGBV. This qualitative study seeks to fill a gap by exploring the impact of SGBV on individuals, families, and communities, and potential options to ameliorate those issues. Data were collected in 2019 from community-based discussions in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo. Women described being direct victims of SGBV, as well as the burden of being at constant alert to the possible threat of violence. Men talked more about SGBV being perpetrated against women, and the indirect effect on men’s perception of their social husband and/or father role to protect and provide for their family. Taken together, women and men describe three types of violence: sexual violence by an unknown assailant who is often associated the rebel groups or the military; sexual violence from a known assailant within one’s community; and sexual or physical violence within intimate partnerships (i.e., intimate partner violence). Women focused more on community-based solutions to reduce their exposure to violence, while men discussed the government’s responsibility to end the long-standing conflict that has severely disrupted lives. Practically, these findings support the need to specify different types of SGBV, and the opportunity to tailor interventions by type.

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Continuum of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence risks among Syrian Refugee Women and Girls in Lebanon

10.21203/rs.2.12094/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Sophie Roupetz ◽

Garbern Stephanie ◽

Michael Saja ◽

Bergquist Harveen ◽

Glaesmer Heide ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Exploitation ◽

First Person ◽

Gender Based Violence ◽

Refugee Women ◽

Syrian Refugee ◽

Wide Range ◽

Women And Girls ◽

Gender Based ◽

And Gender ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background: A myriad of factors including socio-economic hardships impact refugees, with females being additionally exposed to various forms of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). For instance, sexual exploitation and forced prostitution can become negative coping mechanisms through which some women and girls raise funds to cover their families’ living expenses. The aim of this qualitative analysis was to understand and to provide new insight into the experiences of SGBV among Syrian refugee women and girls in Lebanon. Methods: The data are gained from a larger mixed-methods study, investigating the experiences of Syrian refugee girls in Lebanon, using an iPad and the data collection tool, SenseMaker®. The SenseMaker survey intentionally did not ask direct questions about experiences of SGBV but instead enabled stories about SGBV to become apparent from a wide range of subjects of the daily lives of Syrian girls. For this analysis, all first-person stories by female respondents were screened and those about experiences of SGBV were included in a thematic analysis. To present men’s perceptions on these experiences, a random selection of stories about Syrian girls in Lebanon from male respondents was analyzed. Results: In total, 70 of the 327 first person stories from female respondents and 42 of the 159 male stories, included dialogue on SGBV. While experiences of sexual harassment were mainly reported by women and girls, male respondents were much more likely to talk explicitly about sexual exploitation. Due to different forms of SGBV risks in public, unmarried girls were at high risk of child marriage, whereas married girls more often experienced some form of IPV and/or DV. In abusive relationships, some girls and women continued to face violence as they sought divorces and attempted to flee unhealthy situations. Conclusions: Our findings shed light on the importance of recognizing the impact of SGBV on the family as a whole in addition to each of the individual members and to consider the cycle of SGBV not only across the woman’s lifespan but also across generations. The identified gendered differences in how SGBV was discussed may have implications for the design of future research focused on SGBV.

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TOWARDS THE ISSUE ON RATIFICATION OF THE ILO VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT CONVENTION NO. 190 BY UKRAINE

Bulletin of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Legal Studies ◽

10.17721/1728-2195/2020/5.115-3 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 13-16

Author(s):

Sergii Venediktov

Keyword(s):

Occupational Safety ◽

Legal Regulation ◽

Easy Access ◽

Gender Based Violence ◽

Psychosocial Risks ◽

Labour Relations ◽

The World ◽

Gender Based ◽

And Gender ◽

The Impact

The article provides a comparative analysis of the ILO Convention No. 190 and Ukrainian legislation concerning the issues of combating violence and harassment in the world of work. ILO standards have traditionally been one of the key sources of national labour law. Conventions and recommendations of this organization represent a balance of interests of workers, employers and governments, which have also been properly tested both in time and in practice. ILO Convention No. 190 is not an exception in this case. Ratification of this Convention will not only strengthen the international status of Ukraine, but also improve national mechanisms to combat violence and harassment in labour relations. Among the key features of the ILO Convention No. 190 the following should be highlighted: providing a definition of "violence and harassment" in the world of work, specification of the powers of the labour inspectorate in terms of detecting cases of violence and harassment, adoption in consultation with employees a workplace policy on violence and harassment, ensuring easy access to appropriate and effective remedies and dispute resolution mechanisms, etc. It has been established that Ukraine currently has a proper basis for ratification of ILO Convention No. 190. This is primarily due to the adoption in 2017 of the Law on Prevention and Counteraction to Domestic Violence, which introduced a number of important amendments to existing legislation in terms of enshrining at the regulatory level the concepts of "sexual harassment" and "gender-based violence", as well as mechanisms to combat them. The recognition of this Convention as legally binding for Ukraine would further eliminate a number of existing gaps in legal regulation relating to combating violence and harassment in the world of work. Such gaps include: the lack of a clear mandate from the State Labour Service to exercise state control over employers' compliance with anti-violence and harassment legislation, not taking into account violence and harassment and associated psychosocial risks in the management of occupational safety and health, lack of norms that would mitigate the impact of do- mestic violence in the world of work, etc.

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Continuum of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Risks among Syrian Refugee Women and Girls in Lebanon

10.21203/rs.2.12094/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sophie Roupetz ◽

Stephanie Garbern ◽

Saja Michael ◽

Harveen Bergquist ◽

Heide Glaesmer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Host Community ◽

First Person ◽

Gender Based Violence ◽

Refugee Women ◽

Syrian Refugee ◽

Wide Range ◽

Women And Girls ◽

Gender Based ◽

And Gender ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background: A myriad of factors including socio-economic hardships impact refugees, with females being additionally exposed to various forms of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The aim of this qualitative analysis was to understand and to provide new insight into the experiences of SGBV among Syrian refugee women and girls in Lebanon. Methods: The data are gained from a larger mixed-methods study, investigating the experiences of Syrian refugee girls in Lebanon, using an iPad and the data collection tool, SenseMaker®. The SenseMaker survey intentionally did not ask direct questions about experiences of SGBV but instead enabled stories about SGBV to become apparent from a wide range of experiences in the daily lives of Syrian girls. For this analysis, all first-person stories by female respondents about experiences of SGBV were included in a thematic analysis as well as a random selection of male respondents who provided stories about the experiences of Syrian girls in Lebanon. Results: In total, 70 of the 327 first person stories from female respondents and 42 of the 159 stories shared by male respondents included dialogue on SGBV. While experiences of sexual harassment were mainly reported by women and girls, male respondents were much more likely to talk explicitly about sexual exploitation. Due to different forms of SGBV risks in public, unmarried girls were at high risk of child marriage, whereas married girls more often experienced some form of IPV and/or DV. In abusive relationships, some girls and women continued to face violence as they sought divorces and attempted to flee unhealthy situations. Conclusions: This study contributes to existing literature by examining SGBV risks and experiences for refugees integrated into their host community, and also by incorporating the perceptions of men. Our findings shed light on the importance of recognizing the impact of SGBV on the family as a whole, in addition to each of the individual members and supports considering the cycle of SGBV not only across the woman’s lifespan but also across generations. Gendered differences in how SGBV was discussed may have implications for the design of future research focused on SGBV.

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The role of Circle women in curbing violence against women and girls in Africa

Verbum et Ecclesia ◽

10.4102/ve.v37i2.1594 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sylvia Owusu-Ansah

Keyword(s):

West Africa ◽

Violence Against Women ◽

African Women ◽

Background Information ◽

Gender Based Violence ◽

Women And Girls ◽

Gender Based ◽

And Gender ◽

The Impact

The article looks at the role Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians (the Circle) have played in the struggle to end or reduce the rate at which violence against women and girls occurs in West Africa by highlighting the contributions of older Circle women, especially the initiator of the Circle, Mercy Amba Oduyoye. The initiator of the Circle and other older Circle women have left a remarkable legacy that needs to continue by the current and future generations of the Circle. The background information examines the leadership and mentorship of Mercy Amba Oduyoye and the impact she has made in the lives of African women. The essay then looks at the types of violence that women face in West Africa with the specific contributions of Circle women in the struggle to end violence against women and girls. It then argues that Circle women have played very significant roles both in setting the pace and giving the platform for women activities to minimise gender-based violence against women and girls. Circle women have written and presented papers that have addressed many challenges including HIV and/or AIDS, Girl Child trafficking, Marriage of Minors, and almost all kinds of violence against women and girls. Currently, religious violence threatens the fabric of African nations causing insecurity and panic, women and girls being the most vulnerable. The challenge to the present and future Circle members is to contribute in significant ways towards religious harmony in Africa and beyond. The Circle acknowledges the leadership role of women and encourages them to spearhead the liberation of women as well as empower them to be able to aspire to get to the top or become independent. No one understands what someone else feels better than the person experiencing the ordeal. Women can better understand what they go through and also have the passion to strive towards liberation.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: In this article, the discipline of practical theology combines with elements of social science and Gender Studies, bringing out the Circle�s contribution towards the eradication of religious and cultural and gender violence against women and girls in Ghana and Africa.Keywords: Circle; Theology; gender-based violence; Mercy Amba Oduyoye; West Africa

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