Overview of what is gender based violence and a look at the trends in the Caribbean. For Sociology Course students, Department of Sociology, Univ. of the West Indies, Mona Campus.

1. Guest Lecture for Caribbean Social Issues,
(Department of Sociology – UWI Mona)
Taitu Heron
Researcher & Development Specialist
February 19, 2013

2.  According to the Commonwealth Secretariat, GBV involves
“a violation of human rights that results in all forms of
violence based on gender relations. It includes physical
harm, sexual acts, emotional and psychological abuse and
economic deprivation. Its forms include: rape, carnal
abuse, family violence, sexual harassment, sexual assault,
battery, buggery, wounding with instruments”.
 My definition: Gender based violence is defined as any act
that results in a bodily, psychological, sexual and
economic harm to somebody just because they are female
or male. Such act results in the deprivation of freedom and
negative consequences. This violence may be exercised
within or outside households
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3.  UN Definition VAW (1): “Any act of gender-
based violence that results in, or is likely to results
in , physical, sexual or psychological harm or
suffering to women, including threats of such acts,
coercion or arbitrary deprivations of liberty,
whether occurring in public or private life.”
 Article 1 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women
adopted by the General Assembly in 1993.
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4. VAW encompasses but is not limited to the following:
Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the
family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the
household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital
mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-
spousal violence and violence related to exploitation;
 Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the
general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual
harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions
and elsewhere, trafficking in women and forced prostitution;
 Physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or
condoned by the State, wherever it occurs.
Article 2 of UN Declaration
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5.  GBV is often seen as only VAW in which men
exercise negative or violent power over women,
However, power relations do not always “favour”
of men. Thus, GBV between men and against
men can also occur, women against men; and
men against women because of sexual
orientation.
 The overarching culture of masculinity more
often than not, gives an even less therapeutic
atmosphere for male victims of GBV whether
committed by a homosexual male or by a female.
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6.  USAID defines “gender-based violence” as violence
that is directed at an individual based on his or her
biological sex, gender identity, or perceived adherence
to socially defined norms of masculinity and
femininity. It includes physical, sexual, and
psychological abuse; threats; coercion; arbitrary
deprivation of liberty; and economic deprivation,
whether occurring in public or private life.
 Gender-based violence can include female infanticide;
child sexual abuse; sex trafficking and forced labor;
sexual coercion and abuse; neglect; domestic violence;
elder abuse; and harmful traditional practices such as
early and forced marriage, “honor” killings, and female
genital mutilation/cutting.
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7.  Women and girls are the most at risk and most
affected by gender-based violence. Consequently, the
terms “violence against women” and “gender-based
violence” are often used interchangeably. However,
boys and men can also experience gender-based
violence, as can sexual and gender minorities.
 Regardless of the target, gender-based violence is
rooted in structural inequalities between men and
women and is characterized by the use and abuse of
physical, emotional, or financial power and control.
 Definition adapted from Gender-based Violence and HIV: A Program
Guide for Integrating Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response,
USAID.
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8.  Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
 UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against
Women (Vienna Declaration) (1993)
 UN Conventions (ICERD, CEDAW, CRC)
 Inter-American Conventions (i.e. Belem do Para/OAS)
 Sexual Offences Act
 Offences Against the Persons
 Domestic Violence Act
 National Constitutions
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9. The Issue:
 Private (families, households, generations,
relatives, friends)
 Public (Governments, Civil Society, Private
Sector, Institutions, Hospitals & Clinics,
Schools, Courts, Churches)
 People (all walks of life)
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10. The dimensions:
 Health (i.e. reproductive health, general
practice, mental health, HIV/AIDS,
psychological)
 Social (livelihoods, education, labour&
employment, tourism)
 Economic (absenteeism, low productivity,
limited income generation)
 Governance (legal reform, rights, State
Parties to Conventions, CSO, human
trafficking)
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11. 11

12.  Gender-based violence (GBV) violates human
rights and presents a significant public health
challenge with civic, social, political, and
economic consequences for individuals,
communities and whole societies. Different forms
of GBV cause physical and mental harm, limit
access to education, incur medical and legal
costs, reduce productivity, and lower income.
 Gender-based violence undermines the safety,
dignity, health, and human rights of the millions
of individuals who experience it, and the public
health, economic well-being, and security of
nations.
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13.  GBV is a global pandemic that is inflicted upon
men, women and children. However, women and
girls are the most at risk and most affected by
gender based violence. An estimated one in
three women worldwide has been beaten,
coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her
lifetime. According to the UN Population Fund,
almost 50 percent of all sexual assaults
worldwide are against girls 15 and younger.
 Although statistics on the prevalence of violence
vary, the scale is tremendous, the scope is vast,
and the consequences for individuals, families,
communities, and countries are devastating.
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14.  Bearing in mind the definition, the World Bank
and other institutions, label the Caribbean as
the region with the highest rate of violent
crimes, including extensive violence against
women. This high level of gender based
violence, impacts women and girls in multiple
ways: economically, socially, physically,
psychologically, and emotionally.
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15.  The quality of data on GBV and VAW in the Caribbean is
generally acknowledged to be inadequate. The nature of
the phenomenon makes it difficult for measurement at any
level of exactitude or even as definitively as other kinds of
criminal offences.
 Many women do not report
 incidents of violence because of shame, humiliation or an
expectation that agencies would be less than effective or
responsive in treating with their complaints.
 That combined with inefficiencies at a technical level in
capturing and recording reports of violations essentially
means that the data that exist are not reliable indicators of
prevalence.
 Source: Eliminating Gender-based Violence, Ensuring Equality. ECLAC/UNIFEM
Regional Assessment of Actions To End Violence Against Women In The
Caribbean. LC/CAR/G.764. December 2003 , p. 4
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16.  January 1 to November 24, 2012, C.I.S.O.C.A
appreciated a combined total of 3,000 (three
thousand) sexual offences reported island-wide,
as follows.
 Major offences reported are as follows:
 Rape, Sexual Intercourse with Person under 16.
 Buggery, Incest, Grievous Sexual Assault
 Sexual Touching, Indecent Assault
 Assault with Intent to Rape, Attempted Rape
 In addition, 9,625 cases of domestic violence
were reported to the Ja. Constabulary Force
(2011).
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17.  The Directorate of Gender Affairs Crisis Centre in
Antigua and Barbuda, recorded seeing 328 clients
and 364 in 2011. Within the 2010 client list, 60 were
victims of domestic violence, 35 were rapes and
sexual violence and 3 were human trafficking cases.
 In 2011, 283 of the 364 cases were victims of
domestic violence, 38 sexual abuse and 10 cases of
child rape. 22 were human trafficking cases.
 In addition assault by beating increased from 907
cases to 1,243.
 Most females subjected to domestic violence were
25-29 years old. The Directorate has registered its
concern in the increase in human trafficking over the
years.
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18.  Research for Barbados suggest that 30% of
adult women experience physical abuse in
intimate relationships.
 In Guyana research suggests that one in four
women in a union experienced physical
abuse.
 Research from Suriname suggests that 69% of
 Surinamese women had experienced violence
in a conjugal relationship.
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19.  Between 2001 – 2011,the incidences of domestic
violence are trending upwards with an increase
from 1,394 to 2,312. Threats, beatings, and
breaches of Protection Orders were the most
numerous offences.
 Each showed an upward trend from year to year.
 On average over 20 women were murdered each
year.
 Between 2001-2002 for example, of 8,852 cases
that came before the courts, 8,483 were cleared
up.
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20.  Corrective rape
Examples:
 Lesbian women are also at risk of persecution because of their
sexual orientation. JFLAG recorded six cases of corrective rape in
2006 in which men raped women in an attempt to "cure" their
sexual preference. In 2008, 4 cases of "corrective rapes were
reported and another 3 in 2010, including one that tragically
ended in murder. In many cases these women refuse to report
the attacks to the police for fear of retribution from the police
themselves because of their sexual identity. In summary, lesbian
women have nowhere to run to seek accountability for or
protection from these attacks...
 Source: Human Rights Violations of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
(LGBT) people in Jamaica: A Shadow Report. Submitted for consideration at
the 103rd session of the Human Rights Committee, October 2011.
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21.  Sexual assault of men by men
 Examples:
◦ 29 cases were reported in 2007; 33 cases reported in 2008
to the MOH/VRI.
 Physical abuse of men by women.
◦ Examples: Women’s crisis centre reports that from time to
time abused men have come to them seeking assistance
after being ridiculed by the police. According to one study
(Mc-Larty 2012) Jamaican men who experience abuse from
their female partner(s) in Jamaica are not given adequate
attention both in policy and practice due to lack of statistical
data and theorising to provide an accurate picture of this
phenomenon. However, men are victims of gender-based
violence in similar ways as women but patriarchy and the
restrictive nature of the definitions of masculinity have
prevented men from talking out about their abuse.
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22.  Sexual abuse of boys by men and women.
MOH/VRI data reports abuse. In terms of age
distribution, the majority of sexual assaults
(57%) and child abuse (50%) victims were 19
years of age and under.
 Sexual assault. Under 10: Males 310; Females
224
 Physical abuse: Age10-19: Males-1803;
Females: 1726
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23.  The woman must have done something to get
beaten
 It is a domestic problem
 It is not a serious crime
 “ah never mean to hit her but mi han’ got in the
way”
 A woman asks to beaten
 “He don’t love me if he don’t beat me”
 Men can’t get raped;
 If a man gets raped he must be gay.
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24.  Rape is a crime of passion
 Rape is just rough sex
 Women who are careful don’t get raped
 Women secretly want to be raped
 The rapist is usually a stranger
 Most reports of sexual assault are false
 Men needn’t worry about being raped
 Rape can’t happen to me
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25. 
Domestic violence is a private matter that nobody
should interfere with.

A man has the right to beat his wife

A woman must endure the violence to maintain
family cohesion.

A young girl dressed in a provocative manner
seeks to be raped.

Men are unable to control their sexual behavior.
They are violent in nature.

Forcing someone to have sex in a marriage does
not amount to rape.

Some underage girls and boys alleging sexual
abuse lie.
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26.  Gender Inequality,
 power imbalances between men and women
 Male attitudes of disrespect towards women
 Lack of respect for the human rights of women and girls
 Unquestioned assumptions about appropriate male and female behavior
 Desire for power and control on behalf of men
 Political motives, including using rape as a weapon of war, for
power/control, to instill fear.
 Collapse of family and community support systems
 Cultural and traditional practices, religious beliefs
 Alcohol/drug abuse
 Impact of media and music on perception and availability of women and
sometimes men.
 Loss of male power/role in family and community; seeking to regain
and/or assert power
 Legal system/laws silently condone violence against women and girls,
 Ineffective laws against GBV
 Nowhere to run for victims/survivors.
 Impunity for perpetrators.
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27.  ...that in any given society that each
human being may exercise his or her
right to live in a peaceful, safe, and
secure environment, free from fear in
the home and public spaces.
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28.  http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docum
ents/2155/GBV_Factsheet.pdf
 Eliminating Gender-based Violence, Ensuring
Equality. ECLAC/UNIFEM Regional Assessment of
Actions To End Violence Against Women In The
Caribbean. LC/CAR/G.764. December 2003.
 “Tek it to dem and rise up wi community-walking the
talk of gender equality”. The NGO/CSW outcome
document for the Caribbean - an open discussion
paper by Caribbean women working together in the
elimination and prevention of violence against women,
December 10, 2012
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