Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. Violence against women and girls is a problem of pandemic proportions. Worldwide, an estimated one in three women will experience physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime.

Why it’s important

• Sexual and gender-based violence undermines not only the safety, dignity, overall health, and human rights of the individuals who experience it, but also the public health, socioeconomic well-being, and security of communities.
• While the nature and extent of specific types of gender-based violence vary across cultures, countries and regions, it is prevalent everywhere. It knows no social, economic or national boundaries.
• Sexual and gender-based violence is a reflection of historically unequal power relations between men and women. Evidence has shown that men who witnessed their fathers using violence against their mothers, and men who experienced some form of violence at home as children, were significantly more likely to perpetrate intimate partner violence in their adult relationships.

What we are doing to help

ACT Alliance believes in an end to gender inequality, injustice and gender-based violence. Addressing the root causes and mitigating the risk factors is key to prevention work. ACT Alliance is working with its members to enhance preventive measures based on an ethic of resistance to injustices. Faith-based organizations have an ethical obligation to critically work on dismantling the dangerous connections between religion and culture that relegates women to the private sphere, where violence most frequently occurs. Challenging cultural norms and stereotypes that are condoning or justifying violence against women and people of non-conforming sexual orientation is crucial to promote human rights for all.