Preventing gender-based violence: A global imperative

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Public Health
• Anthropology

Background:

• Gender-based violence (GBV) manifests in various forms: emotional, physical, economic, and cultural.
• International efforts are underway to eliminate GBV, with prevention of male violent behavior as a key focus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the necessity of multi-stakeholder collaboration for effective GBV prevention.
• To emphasize the need for scientific harmonization between social sciences and anthropology to understand male violence.
• To identify gaps in current GBV prevention efforts, particularly for marginalized groups.

Main Methods:

• Review of international initiatives and documents, such as the UN's "Ten ways to prevent violence against women and girls."
• Analysis of progress in engaging men in violence prevention programs and adolescent partner violence prevention.
• Identification of fragmented efforts and barriers to collaboration among stakeholders.

Main Results:

• Progress noted in specific areas like men's engagement and adolescent violence prevention.
• Significant gaps persist in preventing GBV among marginalized groups and young women with disabilities.
• Fragmentation of efforts among policymakers, healthcare providers, and social services hinders comprehensive GBV prevention.

Conclusions:

• Effective GBV prevention hinges on unified action and dialogue among all stakeholders.
• Overcoming barriers and fostering cooperation between reproductive health specialists, psychologists, and social scientists is essential.
• Addressing the unique vulnerabilities of marginalized groups is critical for successful GBV eradication.