International Women’s Day: Stopping gender-based violence

INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day is an annual centrepiece for the campaign to achieve gender equality throughout the world.  This goal is shared by None in Three (Ni3), a global research centre based at the University of Huddersfield in the UK.  It is finding new ways to prevent the gender-based violence (GBV), primarily violence against women and girls, that not only has a serious impact on lives and careers of victims but is detrimental to society as a whole.

Ni3 – which was awarded £4.3 million in 2017 by the UK Government’s Global Challenges Research Fund – has now reached an important project milestone, having completed the first stage of its research.  This will lead to the development of pro-social computer games that will be a valuable educational tool in the attempt to curb gender-based violence.

The Centre takes its name from the fact that one in three women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime (WHO, 2013).  In a bid to reverse this statistic, specially recruited researchers in countries around the world have conducted hundreds of interviews with survivors and perpetrators of violence.

The data has been analysed and reports on the findings now in development will include policy recommendations from Ni3.  The findings are also enabling development of the computer games, ensuring they are tailored to the lived experiences of survivors in the relevant countries and cultures.

Jamaica

In Jamaica, the focus is on the long-term impact of childhood sexual abuse.  The team has been keen to explore factors that prevent victims from coming forward to the authorities, as well as the repercussions for those who do speak out.

Ni3’s research shows a strong need for the relevant authorities to receive specialised training on supporting children who report abuse.  There is a need for staff in both the medical and judicial systems to be better trained and equipped to respond.

India

The work in India explores the damaging impact of gender bias.  Research has highlighted the forms of violence that women, children and young people face in homes and communities.  One of the underlying causes is the prevalence of patriarchal traditions.

Ni3’s conclusion is that violence can be reduced if young people – men and women – are empowered to resist these practices.

Uganda

The Ni3 team in Uganda has focused on the impact of child marriage.  Research has highlighted themes such as poverty – particularly in situations when girls drop out of school and fall victim to older men who initially provide necessities and luxuries that their families are unable to afford.

The long-term effects of child marriage identified include intergenerational poverty, illiteracy, family breakdown, poor child development and intimate partner violence.  Lack of knowledge about contraception and sexual health is also an issue.

The Ugandan research also highlights a need for government to liaise with relevant civil society organisations to involve communities in dialogues on the meaning of gender-based violence.

United Kingdom

The UK team has explored intimate partner violence, with young people’s relationships as the central research theme.  Findings show that those who witnessed abuse in their childhood are at an increased risk of becoming victims as adults.  One in three of the women interviewed had suffered childhood neglect or abuse, or had witnessed domestic abuse.  Similarly, one in three had endured more than one abusive intimate relationship as adults.

The UK research suggests that domestic abuse must be seen as a public rather than private issue.  The daily trauma that victims are subjected to is unacceptable and must be acknowledged in order to alter interventions and bring about effective change.