Bringing Youth at the forefront of ending gender-based violence in their localities
Gender-based violence is violence directed against a person because of that person’s gender or violence that affects persons of a particular gender disproportionately.
More so in Uganda, It refers to harmful acts directed at an individual based on their gender, and is rooted in gender inequality, the abuse of power and harmful norms. This can take several forms such as intimate partner violence, sexual violence, child marriage, and female genital mutilation.
Physical violence, Verbal violence, Psychological violence, Sexual violence, Socio-economic violence, Domestic violence or in intimate relationships, Harassment and sexual harassment are among the easily identified categories of gender-based violence.
Gender-based violence is violence directed against a person because of their gender. Both women and men experience gender-based violence but the majority of victims are women and girls.
GBV occurs as a result of normative role expectations and unequal power relationships between genders in a society. The expectations associated with different genders vary from society to society and over time. Cultural factors, Legal factors, Economic factors and Political factors as well are earmarked causes.
Heterogenous factors, such as poverty, lack of education and livelihood opportunities, and impunity for crime and abuse, also tend to contribute to and reinforce a culture of violence and discrimination based on gender.
GBV hinders women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of reproductive health rights. Victims of sexual violence may need emergency contraceptive pills for any unintended pregnancies; treatment for sexually transmitted infections including HIV; medical attention for other injuries including mental and psychological trauma.
Beyond the emotional trauma, GBV can result into physical injuries, contraction of sexual transmitted infections, including HIV, interruptions to sexual health and reproductive abilities, unwanted pregnancies and even death.
Being a victim of GBV during adolescence can lead to long-lasting negative mental and physical health outcomes, and can set young women on a trajectory for subsequent abuse. This in anticipation may lead to self-harm, isolation, depression and suicidal attempts.
Risk factors as result of GBV are responsible for a heightened prevalence of VAW, rather than a single factor. Population-level exposure to other forms of violence (armed conflict, witnessing parental violence, child abuse) and patriarchal social norms appear to drive high levels of violence against women
Key drivers of GBV remain gender inequalities, conflict, power-imbalances, insufficient food at home and alcoholism to mention a few. Besides, Gender based violence denies primary victims the right to life, gender equality, prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of sex, protection of physical integrity and the right to health to mention a few.
Government condemns any form of violence against women and children. We must work together with police, prosecutors and courts to ensure that those who hurt and abuse others are arrested and convicted.
A section young and bold change agents against GBV in Gulu and beyond
However, Youth carry the responsibility through intergenerational movement to spread messages of mindset change towards prevention of Gender-Based Violence and Inequality and these can possibly play their part as seen below;
Educate yourself on the root causes of violence.
Interrupt sexist and discriminatory language.
Be critical and question.
Interrupt abuse.
Stop sexual harassment.
Develop an action plan.
Stop victim blaming.
Stop rape culture.
Decentralize messages of advocacy for mindset change
Display of the products made by our beneficiaries at one of the events
This has practically functioned with our change agents in Gulu that have vigorously spread messages for mindset change at grassroot levels and further aided in identifying all victims of gender based violence. With their efforts managed to identify and select beneficiaries of quick fix for incomes training in making reusable shopping bags.
The fifty child mothers and pregnant teenage girls whose hope had been finally can smile over the skills obtained that continue to redefine their hidden potential. Thanks to French Embassy in Uganda for introducing PISCCA project where we happen to be co-implementers