Gender-Based Violence PDF

Gender-Based Violence It is important to understand the concepts of sex(cinsiyet) and gender (toplumsal cinsiyet) It emerges from power imbalances, gender-based inequalities There is no consent It is a violation of human rights It can be seen with many types of violence Persons exposed...

Gender-Based Violence It is important to understand the concepts of sex(cinsiyet) and gender (toplumsal cinsiyet) It emerges from power imbalances, gender-based inequalities There is no consent It is a violation of human rights It can be seen with many types of violence Persons exposed will be harmed/damaged  Basic Concepts Biological Sex Gender Identity It refers to the biological/anatomical features It is the gender characteristic with which a and differences between the sexes in terms of person defines himself, along with the mental reproductive characteristics. The state of and psychological characteristics he has having different characteristics in external regarding his gender, and wants to be reproductive organs (visible to the eye), recognized by others. Gender identity may or internal reproductive organs (such as uterus, may not be parallel/compatible with the ovaries), chromosomes and hormones physical gender characteristics of the person. Sexual orientation Gender Expression It expresses who the person is emotionally and It covers all clothing, behavior and expressions sexually directed towards and who he wants to related to how a person wants to express have sex with. The person may feel emotional himself to the outside world and to other and sexual attraction to the same gender, the people. other gender, or all genders, and may want to have a relationship. Basic Consepts Sex is a multidimensional construct based on a cluster of anatomical and physiological traits that include external genitalia, secondary sex characteristics, gonads, chromosomes, and hormones. Gender is a multidimensional construct that links gender identity, which is a core element of a person’s individual identity; gender expression, which is how a person signals their gender to others through their behavior and appearance (such as hair style and clothing); and cultural expectations about social status, characteristics, and behavior that are associated with sex traits. Basic Consepts Sexual orientation is a multidimensional construct encompassing emotional, romantic, and sexual attraction, identity, and behavior. Traditional Sex Roles They are socially and culturally determined roles, responsibilities and learned behaviors according to gender. It is the set of behaviors learned during the socialization process. The reflection of these expectations on the person is Gender Role; It means acting and doing in a way that meets the attitudes and behaviors expected from people socially and culturally on the basis of gender. Gender-Based Violence Gender-based violence is the umbrella term for any harmful act committed against a person's will that is based on socially ascribed differences between men and women. Physically, sexually, spiritually harmful or painful acts threatening with such behavior Includes coercion and other deprivations of freedom Takes place in public or private It arises from power inequalities based on gender stereotypes. Gender-Based Violence Gender-based violence (GBV) is violence committed against a person because of his or her sex or gender. It is forcing another person to do something against his or her will through violence, coercion, threats, deception, cultural expectations, or economic means. Although the majority of survivors of GBV are girls and women, LGBTIQ+, boys and men can also be targeted through GBV. Gender-Based Violence Most cases of GBV are committed by men against women. Adult women and adolescent girls constitute the primary vulnerable groups at high risk of experiencing GBV. Men and boys may be subjected to sexual violence, especially in conflict settings. This may include violence committed by a stranger or someone the survivor knows. GBV against men and boys is most often committed by other men and boys. Consent There are two main aspects to informed consent: Consent means saying “yes,” agreeing to something. Informed consent means making an informed choice freely and voluntarily. That is, s/he understands the consequences of the choice, has equal power, and freely chooses to accept the consequences. Informed consent also means being aware of and able to exercise the right to say “no” Consent Acts of GBV occur without informed consent. Even if s/he says “yes,” this is not true consent because it was said under duress—the perpetrator(s) used some kind of force/abuse of power to get her to say yes. If there is coercion or force, consent cannot occur! Children (under age 18) are not able to give informed consent because they are not considered mature enough the implications of saying ‘yes’, including for acts such as female genital cutting/mutilation (FGM/C), marriage, sexual relations, etc. GBV Classification Rape Sexual Assault Physical Assault Forced Marriage Denial of Resources, Opportunities or Services Emotional/Psychological Abuse GBV Classification Rape: Non-consensual penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth with a penis or other body part. Also includes penetration of the vagina or anus with an object. Sexual Assault: any form of non-consensual sexual contact that does not result in or include penetration. Examples include: attempted rape, as well as unwanted kissing, fondling, or touching of genitalia and buttocks. FGM/C is an act of violence that impacts sexual organs, and as such should be classified as sexual assault. This incident type does not include rape, i.e., where penetration has occurred. GBV Classification Physical Assault: an act of physical violence that is not sexual in nature. Examples include: hitting, slapping, choking, cutting, shoving, burning, shooting or use of any weapons, acid attacks or any other act that results in pain, discomfort or injury. Denial of Resources, Opportunities or Services:denial of rightful access to economic resources/assets or livelihood opportunities, education, health or other social services. Examples include a widow prevented from receiving an inheritance, earnings forcibly taken by an intimate partner or family member, a woman prevented from using contraceptives, a girl prevented from attending school, etc. Reports of general poverty should not be recorded. GBV Classification Emotional/Psychological Abuse: infliction of mental or emotional pain or injury. Examples include: threats of physical or sexual violence, intimidation, humiliation, forced isolation, stalking, harassment, unwanted attention, remarks, gestures or written words of a sexual and/or menacing nature, destruction of cherished things, etc. Forced Marriage: The marriage of an individual against her or his will. GBV Classification The following were not included as core types of GBV. However, they can be analyzed indirectly. 1. Intimate Partner Violence (often referred to as “domestic violence”) 2. Child Sexual Abuse 3. Early Marriage 4. Sexual Exploitation / Transactional Sex 5. Sexual Slavery 6. Harmful Traditional Practices Child, Early and Forced Marriages Child marriage:Religious or civil marriages where at least one of the parties is under the age of 18. Early marriage :Marriages that at least one of the parties is under the age of 18 or marriages where parties are not equipped to give consent due their physical, emotional, sexual and psychological level of development and their lack of knowledge on individuals’ life choices, despite being over the age of 18. Child, Early and Forced Marriages Forced marriage: Marriages in which one and/or both parties have not personally expressed their full and free consent to the union. There can be different forms of forced marriage. Trafficking in persons, traditional arranged marriages, abduction of girls, marriages for the purposes of obtaining citizenship status and marriages in which the victim lacks the capacity to give full and informed consent are all examples of forced marriages. Child, Early and Forced Marriages TCC ( Turkish Civil Code) Article 124 “A man or a woman cannot get married until they reach the age of 17 years. However, a judge, in exceptional circumstances and for some very important reasons, may allow the marriage of a man or woman who has completed 16 years of age”. Following the amendments to the Regulation on Marriage Procedures in 2003, the criteria for marriage were redefined: Child, Early and Forced Marriages Regulation on Marriage Procedures Article 14 Men and women who have reached the age of eighteen and are not put under guardianship by the court marry without the consent or permission of another: a) Men and women who have reached the age of seventeen can marry with parental consent, or if there is a guardian, with the consent of the guardianor the guardianship, b) Men and women who have reached the age of sixteen can marry with the approval of a judge. Child, Early and Forced Marriages In Turkey, where marriage is common, a small increase in the age at first marriage and a decrease in marriage under the age of 18 have been observed throughout the years. The mean age at first marriage in the country increases slowly over time. According to official statistics, which only include civil marriages, the mean age at first marriage increased from 23.7 for women in 2010 to 24.8 in 2019. Over the same period, the mean age at first marriage for men increased from 27.0 to 27.8 (TURKSTAT; 2020). Child, Early and Forced Marriages According to official statistics comprised only of civil marriages, the total proportion of women aged 16-19 in marriages declined from 26.3% to 15.9% between 2010 and 2019. In the same period, the marriages in the 16-19 age group among men declined from 3% to 1.9%. Child, Early and Forced Marriages CEFM is violations of children's fundamental rights: Child and forced marriage hinder children's education,limit their social, psychological, physical and cultural development, and restrict their freedom. CEFM is a matter of education. Child marriage leads to interrupted education. It causes premature participation in the labor force among boys and causes girls to shoulder responsibilities of motherhood and domestic work in a period when they are not ready to take on such responsibilities. It is estimated that 2.5 million children worldwide do not continue their education. Child, Early and Forced Marriages CEFM is a poverty and economic issue. As a mechanism for coping with economic problems and poverty, families opt for marrying off their children and asking for a bride price to marry off their daughters. Even though having one less person from the household and their daughters living in a more comfortable home are among the motivations, the stated economic-related reasons are supported by social and cultural norms. Due to limited educational opportunities, CEFM negatively affects children's participation in the labor force at later ages. It reduces the adult participation of girls in the labor force, due to low levels of education. Child, Early and Forced Marriages CEFM is a form of discrimination against girls. These marriages, to which women and men are subjected, signal gender inequality. Childhood pregnancy and motherhood further restrict girls’ lives. Worldwide, 21% of young women aged 20-24 were married before the age of 18. CEFM is a sexual and reproductive health problem. CEFM has serious adverse consequences, especially in terms of the sexual and reproductive health of girls. Child, Early and Forced Marriages 21% of girls worldwide, that is, one in every five girls, were married before the age of 18. Every year, 12 million girls under the age of 18 are married in the world. Approximately 115 million men worldwide were married before the age of 18. Child, Early and Forced Marriages According to the results of Türkiye Demographic and Health Survey 2018: 21% of women between the ages of 25-49 were married before the age of 18, and 4% were married before the age of 15. In the same age group, 38% of Syrian women living in Turkey were married before the age of 18 and 12% before the age of 15. Between the ages of 15 and 19, 3.5% of girls have started childbearing. While 27% of young women in the 20-24 age group receive bride price during their marriage, this rate is 38% for women in the same age group who married before the age of 18. Child, Early and Forced Marriages According to the results of Türkiye Demographic and Health Survey 2018: Approximately eight out of 10 girls in the 20-24 age group who were married before the age of 18 started their marriage in households where at least one relative lived. One in every five women exposed to DWA has never used a contraceptive method (DPR). The rate of women aged 20-24 who were married before the age of 18 and who do not know how to access any contraceptive method is 29%. Child, Early and Forced Marriages It hinders children's right to access education: Right to Access Education: Preventing the right to access formal education (leaving school or being out of school), preventing access to the information he needs (access to rights and services is also denied, not being able to access reproductive health and sexual health information), not being able to access opportunities related to personal development. Child, Early and Forced Marriages Uneducated girls are three times more likely to marry at age 18 than girls with a secondary school level or higher education. More than 60% of uneducated women (20-24) were married before the age of 18. Disconnection from education and employment prevents girls from accessing social networks and support services and causes them to fall into a cycle of poverty. Child, Early and Forced Marriages It deprives the child from exercising his/her rights: Right to Privacy and Protection: Married girls become subjects of violence, including marital rape. Girls who marry before the age of 18 are reported to be exposed to more violence than women who marry after the age of 18. Among GBV cases, cases of violence against people under the age of 18 constitute half of the caseload. Child, Early and Forced Marriages Studies show that women who marry at an early age are more exposed to physical violence in their marriages than women in other age groups. According to the findings of the research, the rate of experiencing physical violence at any time in their lives is 48% among women who married before the age of 18, while it is 31% among women who married after the age of 18. While approximately one fifth (19%) of women married before the age of 18 have been exposed to sexual violence, the rate of exposure to sexual violence is less than half (10%) in women married after the age of 18. Child, Early and Forced Marriages The common reasons for CEFM suggested by the literature are: Poverty and economic conditions Lack of education Gender inequality Cultural norms and, traditions Child, Early and Forced Marriages The common reasons for CEFM suggested by the literature are: Gender-based violence Conflict and crisis settings: Conflict increases the inequalities that make girls vulnerable to child marriage – and its consequences. Families may arrange marriages for girls, believing marriage will protect their daughters from violence by strangers or armed groups, as well as to ease financial burdens on the family. Child, Early and Forced Marriages The common reasons for CEFM suggested by the literature are: Inequalities between boys and girls driven by harmful social and gender norms Laws protecting girls aren’t enforced Parents think marriage will protect girls from violence, particularly in times of crisis or insecurity Younger wives are considered to be more obedient Child, Early and Forced Marriages CEFM Symptoms: Obtaining registration from school Absence from school for unexpected periods of time Not returning after semester break Unexpected drop in school performance The family states that they have financial difficulties in educating the child. The family states that the child has difficulty accessing school. Child, Early and Forced Marriages The family complains about 'immoral'/'bad' behavior at school/around the school. Not participating in activities previously attended (such as sports and social activities) Accompanying the child everywhere (e.g. at the doctor, meeting with the teacher) Being kept at home more, not being sent out alone Sudden change in physical appearance (including clothing) Child, Early and Forced Marriages Increase in the child doing housework / taking care of siblings / visiting family Existence of practices such as beşik kertmesi and berdel in the family or surroundings A suspicious feeling that the child will be sent abroad / out of town Child, Early and Forced Marriages Self-harm, suicidal tendencies, eating disorders, or behavioral and emotional problems (aggressiveness, withdrawal from social relationships, sleep disorders) in the child Sexual and reproductive health problems (Can be seen with pain, menstrual and toilet problems) Depressive, damaging behavior