Gender-based violence (GBV) and violence against women and girls (VAWG) are among the most widespread violations of human rights. They include physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse, cutting across boundaries of age, race, culture, wealth, and geography. GBV and VAWG can take place at home, on the streets, in schools, and in the workplace and may manifest in different ways—from the most prevalent forms of domestic and sexual violence, sexual harassment and stalking to less prevalent harmful practices, so-called “honour killings” and other forms of femicide. Patriarchal norms and gender inequalities often contribute to the normalisation of violence against women and other marginalised groups. Limited awareness and understanding of GBV and VAWG perpetuate harmful stereotypes and attitudes, hindering efforts to create a supportive environment for survivors and to challenge societal norms perpetuating a culture of victim-blaming and impunity for perpetrators. Furthermore, the underreporting of GBV and VAWG incidents due to stigma, fear of retaliation, and lack of trust in the justice system hampers the accurate assessment of the problem’s scope and impact.
