CHAPTER 7:
LEGAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATION
ON GENDER DISCRIMINATION AND
GENDER VIOLENCE
Topic 1:
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE SURVIVOR VICTIM
PERPETRATOR AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Lesson Objectives:
At the end of the topic, you will be able to:
1. understand the definition of a gender-based violence other related terms and its forms and consequences
2. understand gender-based violence as a human rights issue
3. determine relationship between human rights and gender base violence and
4. different shape perpetuators survivors and victims in gender-based violence
Gender based violence
Is one of the most wide- spread and the human right abuses but least recognized
in the world. It refers to any harm perpetuated against a person's will on the basis
of gender the socially ascribed differences between males and females. Gender-
based violence has devastating consequences not only for victims but also for
society as a whole. (Sigal [Link] 2013) It results in physical, sexual, and
psychological harm to both women and men and includes any form of violence
or abuse that targets men and the women on the basis of their sex.
GENDER BASED
VIOLENCE
In the Philippines, gender-based violence has clearly been placed in the realm of women's human rights over the past
decade. But I hear to 1993, most governments regarded violence against women largely as a private matter between
individuals. (Loi [Link] 1991) Gender-based violence experienced by women and girls refers to buttering and other
forms of intimate partner violence including marital rape, sexual violence, dowry- related early marriage, force
marriage, female genital cutting and other traditional practices harmful to women, her sexual harassment in the
workplace and educational institutions, commercial sexual exploitation, trafficking of girls and women, and
violence perpetrated against domestic workers. (USAID 2009).
Gender-based violence across public and private spheres, including; home, school, and work, and takes
place during this time and conflict. It is both a human rights and a development issue, with negative
consequences for both women and men.
CONSEQUENCES OF A GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
These consequences include serious, immediate, and the long-term impacts on sexual, physical, and
psychological health of survivors.
Health consequences include unwanted pregnancy, complications from unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted
infections including HIV, injuries, mental health, and cycles social effects (depression, anxiety, past traumatic stress,
suicide and death). Violence also affect children's survival, development, and school participation.
Social consequences extend to families and communities. Families can also be stigmatized as a consequence of
gender-based violence. For example, when children are born following a rape, or if family members choose to stand by a
survivor, fellow members of their community may avoid them.
Economic consequences include the cost of public health and social welfare system and the reduce ability of
many survivors to participate in social and economic life. (World health organization, global and original estimates of
violence against women 2013.
SURVIVOR, VICTIM AND PERPETRATOR
SURVIVOR
Survivor is the preferred term (not a
“victim”) of a person who has lived through an
incident of gender-based violence.
PERPETRATOR
It is a person, group, or institution that inflicts,
Notes: supports, or condones violence or other abuse against a
In all incidents of GBV, there is always a person or group of a persons. characteristics of perpetrators
survivor/victim and a perpetrator. include;
Therefore, all actions in the prevention and a. person with real or perceived power;
responses to GBV needs address both the b. persons in the session making positions; and
survivor and the perpetrator.
c. persons in authority.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Human rights are universal, in
alienable, indivisible, interconnected, Prevention of and response to gender-based
and interdependent. everyone is the violence is directly linked to the
entitled to all the right and the protection of human rights. Acts of gender-
freedoms without distinction of any based violence violate a number of human
kind, such as race, color, sex, rights principles enshrined and international
language, religion, political oAr other human rights instruments and in our
opinion, national or social origin, Philippine Constitution.
property, birth, or other status.
This include the following, among others:
the right to life, Liberty and property of persons
the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
the right to freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or
punishment;
the right to freedom of opinion and expression and to education ; (UNFBA
2014).
SUMMARY
GBV is a worldwide phenomenon which must be given attention nationally and
internationally. The consequences capture almost all spheres of our lives (family, socially,
economically, and health). A main focus of gender-based violence is violence against women
(VAW) affecting women and girls across their life span. VAW also covers a continuum of violence
which appeared to be unending, with an array of elements of abuse, coercion, or force.
The survivor and perpetuator are important actors of GBV and VAW cases. GBV and VAW are
clear violations of human rights. All these point to this essence that this acts of violence are a
global and national concern.
