Gender-based violence (GBV) is a major public health and human rights concern that affects women and girls around the world. While there are many organizations working to prevent and address GBV, two organizations in particular have been making a major impact in the fight against this global issue.
Understanding GBV
Gender-based violence is a form of violence that is rooted in gender inequality, and is directed at individuals or groups based on their gender. This type of violence includes physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse, and can affect anyone regardless of age, race, class, or culture. GBV is a pervasive problem that affects the lives of millions of people, and is linked to a range of physical, mental, and reproductive health problems.
Fighting GBV Together
The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) is a global organization that works to promote gender equality and prevent violence against women and girls. ICRW works in collaboration with governments, civil society, and the private sector to address gender inequality and GBV. They provide technical assistance, research, and advocacy to support the implementation of effective policies and programs.
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) is an agency of the United Nations that works to promote gender equality and empower women and girls. UN Women works to end violence against women and girls by supporting governments and civil society to develop and implement laws, policies, and programs that address GBV. They also provide technical and financial support to organizations working to prevent and respond to GBV.
The fight against GBV is a global challenge that requires a collective effort. These two organizations, ICRW and UN Women, are leading the way in addressing gender-based violence and promoting gender equality. Together, they are working to ensure that all people, regardless of gender, have access to safety, justice, and equality.
The fight against gender-based violence (GBV) is an ongoing battle for many countries around the world, and organisations are at the forefront of these efforts. There are hundreds of organisations dedicated to ending GBV and its root causes, and many of them are international in scope. Two such organisations, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), are making significant strides in this fight.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian aid organisations, working to provide relief, protection, and recovery to communities around the world. With a history of over 100 years of responding to humanitarian needs, the IRC focuses on many aspects of gender-based violence. They are partnering with local civil society organisations to provide counselling to GBV survivors, advocating in public and private spaces for greater respect for women’s rights, and helping create legal protections for women from violence and discrimination.
The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) is a research and policy-based organisation working to advance the rights and power of women and girls in the United States and abroad. ICRW works to end the cycle of gender-based violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault. They recently launched a multi-year initiative called Her Choice, which aims to improve knowledge and understanding of GBV in India, with a focus on youth and adolescent communities. The initiative includes advocacy, research, and innovative technological approaches to combat GBV, with the goal of creating lasting social change.
The fight against GBV is an urgent need and organisations like the IRC and the ICRW are leading the way. These two organisations have demonstrated the importance of approaching GBV from multiple angles, by providing services directly to survivors, working with local and international partners to create long-term systemic change, and engaging in research and policy work to better understand the issue and inform policies and action. Their efforts are crucial to creating a world where all people have access to safety and justice.