This document discusses gender-based violence against adolescent girls with a focus on sexual violence. It defines gender-based violence according to the UN and outlines various socio-cultural, economic, political, legal, and psychological factors that perpetuate such violence. It then describes different types of violence girls may face, including physical, emotional, sexual and trafficking. It outlines signs and consequences of physical and sexual abuse and trafficking of girls. Finally, it discusses addressing the problem through strengthening institutional and legal systems, increasing support services for victims, and the role of NGOs.
1. GGEENNDDEERR BBAASSEEDD VVIIOOLLEENNCCEE
AAGGAAIINNSSTT
AADDOOLLEESSCCEENNTT GGIIRRLL--FFOOCCUUSS
OONN SSEEXXUUAALL VVIIOOLLEENNCCEE
B. R. SIWAL
Deputy Director
email: brsiwal@gmail.com
Women Development Division
NIPCCD, New Delhi
2. UN Definition
• “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.”
3. FACTORS THAT PERPETUATE
VIOLENCE
SOCIO-CULTURAL
• Gender – specific
socialization
• Cultural definitions of
appropriate sex roles
• Expectations of roles within
relationships
• Belief on the inherent
superiority of males
4. • Values that give men
proprietary rights over
women and girls
• Notion of the family as the
private sphere and under
male control
• Customs of marriage (bride
price / dowry)
• Acceptability of violence as a
means to resolve conflict
5. ECONOMIC
• Women’s economic dependence on
men
• Limited access to cash and credit
• Discriminatory laws regarding
inheritance, property rights, use
of communal lands, and
maintenance after divorce or
widowhood
• Limited access to employment in
formal and informal sector
• Limited access to education and
training
6. POLITICAL
• Under-representation of
women in power, politics,
media and in legal and
medical professions
• Domestic violence not taken
seriously
• Notions of family being
private and beyond control of
the state
• Risk of challenge to status
quo / religious laws
• Limited organisation of
women as a political force
• Limited participation of
women in organised political
7. LEGAL
• Laws regarding divorce, child
custody, maintence and
inheritance
• Low levels of legal literacy
among women
• Lesser legal status of women
either by written law and / or
by practice
• Insensitive treatment of
women and girls by police
and judiciary
8. PSYCHOLOGICAL
MALTREATMENT
Definition
• Psychological Neglect - the
consistent failure of a
parent or caretaker to
provide a child with
appropriate support,
attention, and affection.
Psychological Abuse - a
chronic pattern of behaviors
such as belittling,
humiliating, and ridiculing a
9. PHYSICAL ABUSE
Definition
Physical abuse is any non-accidental
injury to a child
under the age of 18 by a
parent or caretaker. These
injuries may include
beatings, shaking, burns,
human bites, strangulation,
or immersion in scalding
water, with resulting
bruises and welts, broken
bones, scars, burns, retinal
hemorrhage, or internal
injuries.
10. CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
Definition
Child sexual abuse is the
exploitation of a child or
adolescent for the sexual
gratification of another person.
11. TYPES OF VIOLENCE
• Violation of human rights
– CRC
– CEADAW
– Other human right
instruments
Gender based
discrimination
13. • EMOTIONAL ABUSE
− Confinement
− Forced marriage
− Threats of reprisals
14. SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND
ABUSE
−Rape
−Molestation
− Pornography
− Incest
− Exposure to Sexual Acts of
others
− Sexual Assault with object
− Forcible Fondling
− Trafficking
− Juvenile Prostitution
− Sexual Harassment / Eve
teasing
− Sex with minor (child
marriage)
15. Indications of violence
against Girls:
PHYSICAL
• Fractures, injuries of
conjunctive tissue:
• wounds on head or face;
• broken teeth;
• broken jaw;
• black eyes;
• perforated ear-drums.
16. • Contusion of abdomen, chest,
perineum, especially during
pregnancy.
• Bite marks
• Unusual burns (from cigarettes,
stove, hot fat, acids).
• Visits to the hospital become
more frequent, and traumas –
more serious.
• Not getting enough sleep and
malnutrition.
24. SEXUAL ABUSE SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED WHEN:
• Pregnancy in young
adolescent
• Frequent unexplained sore
throats, yeast or urinary
infections
• Child reports inappropriate
sexual behavior
• Child engaged in highly
inappropriate sexual
25. Sexual Abuse
• Early warnings
•General statements
• Sexualized play
• Suspicious touching
• Improper visualization or
glances
• Direct statements of a
sexual nature
26. Behavioral Changes -
Signs of Sexual Abuse
• Sleep disturbances:
nightmares, night terror
• Appetite disturbances:
anorexia, bulimia
• Neurotic disorders
• Phobias: avoidance
behavior
• Withdrawal, depression
• Guilt
27. Behavioral Changes -
Sings of Sexual Abuse
• Medical conditions
•Genital or urethral trauma
•Genital infection
• Sexually transmitted
diseases
• Recurrent urinary tract
infections
• Abdominal pain
28. Behavioral Changes -
Sings of Sexual Abuse
• Other signs:
• Pregnancy
• School problems
• Promiscuity or
prostitution
• Substance abuse
• Commonly admitting to
guilt
29. CONSEQUENCES OF SEXUAL
VIOLENCE:
• Sexually transmitted diseases.
• Vaginal or rectal injuries.
• Miscarriages, stillborn babies,
premature birth.
• Low self esteem
• Depression
• Fear
• Anxiety
30. • Sexual dysfunction
• Obsessive – compulsive
disorder
• Post – traumatic stress
disorder
• Unwanted pregnancy
• Induced abortion
• STD including HIV/AIDS
• Suicide
31. PSYCHOLOGICAL
Symptoms of depression:
• low self-esteem;
• self-containment;
• neglected appearance;
• consider suicidal options or
attempts to take her own life;
32. • anorexia of bulimia (i.e.
pathological refusal to have
a meal of pathological
overeating);
• taking alcohol or drugs;
• insomnia;
• psychosomatic diseases
• fits of uneasiness;
• feeling of helplessness;
• weeps frequently;
33. • indecisive behavior;
• avoids meeting eyes.
• loss of contacts with family
members and friends (sense
of being isolated).
• poverty (sometimes as a
result of financial tricks of
her partner).
• obsessive fear.
• alienation from her children
or even hostility towards
them.
34. TRAFFICKING
• Recruitment transportation
are receipt of women and
girl through deception or
coercion for the purpose of
prostitution other sexual
exploitation or forced
labour.
35. VULNERABILITIES TO
TRAFFICKING
• Feminization of Poverty
• Poverty of parent
• Lack of employment
opportunities
• Lack of unequal access to
education
• Traditional community
attitude
• Debt and bondage of
parents
• False promises and
36. • Caste and tribal social
system
• Domestic – violence
• Low level of confidence and
self worth
• Death of parents
• Lack awareness and laws
• Street children with no
guardians
• Single women – migrant
worker
• Sudden disaster victim –
cyclone, earth quakes and
37. TRENDS IN TRAFFICKING
• Growing scope and
magnitude
• New source and destination
• Diverse and sophisticated
mechanisms
• Highly organised crime
syndicates
• Changes in the portico of
trafficked persons.
• Extended linkage between
trafficking network and
38. ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM
• Victims of domestic violence
requiring assistance often
face their problems alone
without any support from
their relatives or neighbors
• Institutional and legal
systems should be more
efficient response to cases of
domestic violence.
39. • There are few
organizations providing
social, housing, legal, and
psychological assistance
to victims of violence;
lack of programs for self-assistance
and self-defense
for victims of
domestic violence.
• combating domestic
violence and of providing
assistance to victims.
40. • Lack of modern empirical
diagnostics and practical
knowledge essential for
better
• understanding and
combating the phenomenon
of domestic violence.
• The level of public
stereotypes concerning
domestic violence
complicates preventing this
violence and solving related
problems.
41. ROLE OF NGOs
• Collect and analyze information on
domestic violence.
• Hold public awareness campaigns,
publish informational materials.
• Conduct different educational
activities, e.g. trainings for women.
• Undertake training of governmental
officials; provide them with
information.
• Accompany police on domestic violence
calls.
42. • Provide “public defenders” to
victims.
• Participate in the work of
“advisors”.
• Create shelters, crises
centers, self-defense groups
and hotlines for abused
women.
• Conduct psychological
rehabilitation of abusers,
children and other members
of the family.