23/07/2026
*GBV = Gender-Based Violence*
That’s violence directed at someone because of their gender. It includes physical, sexual, emotional, economic abuse, harassment, and harmful practices. It affects all genders, but women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people experience it most.
*What causes GBV*
There isn’t one single cause. It usually comes from a mix of factors that reinforce each other:
*1. Social and cultural norms*
- Ideas like "men should be in control" or "women should obey"
- Stigma around reporting abuse, victim-blaming, and normalizing violence as "discipline" or "jealousy"
- Harmful practices and stereotypes passed down in families/media
*2. Power and inequality*
- Unequal access to money, education, jobs, and decision-making
- When people feel entitled to control a partner’s body, time, or choices
*3. Individual and relationship factors*
- Witnessing violence at home as a child
- Substance abuse, stress, and poor conflict-resolution skills
- Jealousy, possessiveness, and low self-esteem
*4. Community and systems factors*
- Weak laws, slow justice, or corruption that makes perpetrators feel there are no consequences
- Lack of safe spaces, shelters, and support services
- Poverty and unemployment that increase tension and dependency
*How we can solve it as a community*
Real change happens when we work at all these levels together. Here are things communities can actually do: