Report on Gender-Based Violence as a Barrier to Sustainable Development

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a pervasive global crisis that fundamentally undermines human rights and impedes progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With a woman killed by an intimate partner or family member every six minutes, the urgency of this issue cannot be overstated. This report analyzes the scope of GBV, its systemic causes, and the multi-sectoral actions required to eradicate it, with a significant focus on its direct impact on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Scope and Impact of GBV on Sustainable Development Goals

Defining Gender-Based Violence

Gender-Based Violence encompasses a spectrum of harmful acts directed at an individual based on their gender. It is rooted in gender inequality, the abuse of power, and harmful norms. The forms of violence include:

• Physical, sexual, and psychological violence
• Economic and financial abuse
• Domestic abuse and marital rape
• Child marriage and “honor-based” violence
• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and human trafficking
• Technology-facilitated abuse, including cyberstalking, doxxing, and the non-consensual distribution of intimate images.

Impediments to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

GBV poses a severe threat to SDG 3. Survivors often suffer from lasting physical and psychological trauma, including anxiety, depression, and social isolation. The burden on public health systems is immense, consuming significant resources for medical treatment, mental health services, and long-term care, thereby diverting funds from other essential health priorities.

Barriers to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The economic consequences of GBV directly challenge the objectives of SDG 8. The violence limits women’s participation in the workforce and education, leading to lost productivity, increased absenteeism, and high employee turnover. Countries with high rates of GBV often experience slower economic growth and reduced national development, as a significant portion of the population is unable to contribute to its full potential.

Vulnerable Populations and the Mandate of SDG 10

Disproportionate Impact and Inequality

While GBV can affect anyone, it disproportionately impacts women and girls. In alignment with the mandate of SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), it is critical to recognize that certain groups face compounded risk. These include:

• Indigenous women
• Women with disabilities
• Migrants and refugees
• Members of the LGBTQ+ community

Addressing GBV is therefore essential to reducing the systemic inequalities that leave these populations marginalized and vulnerable.

Intergenerational Impact

The cycle of violence perpetuates across generations. Children who witness GBV are more susceptible to trauma, behavioral challenges, and are more likely to either become victims or perpetrators of violence in adulthood. This undermines long-term social cohesion and obstructs progress toward peaceful and inclusive societies.

Systemic Failures and Contradictions to SDG 16

Root Causes in Gender Inequality (SDG 5)

The persistence of GBV is a direct symptom of the failure to achieve SDG 5 (Gender Equality). It is deeply embedded in societal structures, power imbalances, and cultural norms that perpetuate discrimination against women and girls.

Institutional Weaknesses and Access to Justice

Systemic failures are a primary reason why GBV continues unabated, directly contravening the principles of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). Key institutional weaknesses include:

1. Inadequate Legal Frameworks: Laws against GBV are often weak, poorly enforced, or non-existent.
2. Lack of Accountability: Survivors frequently face blame and stigmatization, while perpetrators act with impunity.
3. Under-resourced Systems: Police, judicial systems, and social services often lack the training and resources to provide effective support to survivors.
4. Harmful Cultural Practices: Traditions such as child marriage, FGM, and honor killings are sometimes used to justify violence, undermining the rule of law.

A Multi-Sectoral Strategy for Eradicating GBV

Governmental and Institutional Responsibilities

Governments must lead a coordinated response to end GBV. This requires a comprehensive approach that aligns with multiple SDGs:

• Strengthen Justice Systems (SDG 16): Enact and rigorously enforce laws that protect survivors and ensure their access to justice.
• Fund Support Services (SDG 3, SDG 11): Adequately fund shelters, crisis centers, and hotlines to provide safe and accessible support for survivors.
• Promote Education (SDG 4): Integrate comprehensive education on consent, respect, and gender equality into school curricula to address harmful norms from an early age.

Corporate and Civil Society Engagement

The private sector and civil society play a crucial role in driving change.

• Workplace Policies (SDG 8): Businesses must adopt and enforce zero-tolerance policies for harassment and violence, creating safe and supportive work environments.
• Technological Accountability: Technology companies have a responsibility to design platforms that prevent online abuse and respond effectively to reports of technology-facilitated GBV.
• Community and Survivor-Led Initiatives (SDG 5): Supporting survivor-led organizations and community programs that engage men and boys as allies is critical to shifting cultural attitudes and fostering respectful relationships.

Conclusion: A Collective Responsibility for the 2030 Agenda

Eradicating gender-based violence is not merely a target within SDG 5; it is a prerequisite for the success of the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Achieving goals related to health, education, economic growth, and justice is impossible in a world where half the population lives under the threat of violence. Progress requires a unified and unwavering commitment from governments, institutions, the private sector, and individuals to dismantle the structures of inequality and build a world where everyone can live with dignity and without fear.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The article’s central theme is gender-based violence (GBV), which is a primary obstacle to achieving gender equality. It explicitly discusses various forms of violence and discrimination that disproportionately affect women and girls, such as domestic abuse, femicide, child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and online harassment. The text states, “While anyone can experience GBV, women and girls are overwhelmingly the victims.”

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article highlights systemic failures that perpetuate violence. It points to the need for justice and strong institutions by mentioning that “laws are weak or unenforced,” and that “Police, courts, and healthcare systems and social services are often undertrained or under-resourced to help.” The call for governments to “pass and enforce strong laws” and ensure survivors “have access to justice” directly connects to this goal.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The text details the severe health consequences of GBV. It describes survivors experiencing “lasting trauma, anxiety, depression, and social isolation.” The economic impact on healthcare is also noted: “Healthcare systems spend billions treating survivors.” This connects the issue of GBV directly to physical and mental health outcomes.

SDG 4: Quality Education

• The article identifies education as a key solution. It advocates for preventative measures through learning, stating that “Schools should integrate education on respect, consent, and gender equality.” This positions education as a critical tool for changing cultural norms and preventing future violence.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The economic impact of GBV is clearly articulated. The article explains that “businesses lose productivity due to absenteeism or turnover, and societies miss out on the contributions of women forced to leave jobs or educational opportunities.” It also calls for workplaces to “adopt zero-tolerance policies toward harassment and abuse,” linking safety from violence to economic participation and productivity.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

   This target is the core focus of the article. The text defines GBV as including “physical, sexual, emotional, financial, and psychological” violence and lists specific examples like “domestic abuse, marital rape… trafficking, online harassment, and more.”

2. Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

   The article explicitly names these harmful practices as forms of GBV, stating that “in some cultures, practices like child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and honor killings are excused under the banner of tradition.”

3. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   The article opens with the stark statistic, “Every six minutes, somewhere in the world, a woman is killed by someone she knows,” directly addressing the issue of violence-related death rates (femicide).

4. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

   The article mentions “child marriage” and notes the impact on children who witness violence, stating they “are more likely to suffer from trauma, develop behavioral or emotional challenges, and repeat patterns of violence in adulthood.”

5. Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including… through education for… gender equality and promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence.

   The article directly proposes this as a solution: “Schools should integrate education on respect, consent, and gender equality.”

6. Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being.

   The article describes the psychological impact of GBV, noting that online harassment leaves survivors with “lasting trauma, anxiety, depression, and social isolation” and that survivor-led organizations provide “trauma counseling.”

Implied or Mentioned Indicators

1. Indicator 16.1.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age.

   This is directly implied by the opening statistic on femicide: “Every six minutes, somewhere in the world, a woman is killed by someone she knows.” Tracking this rate is a measure of progress against lethal GBV.

2. Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner.

   The article’s focus on “domestic abuse,” “marital rape,” and violence from “someone she knows” implies the need to measure intimate partner violence to understand the scope of the problem.

3. Indicator 5.3.2: Proportion of girls and women who have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting.

   The specific mention of “female genital mutilation (FGM)” as a persistent harmful practice implies that tracking its prevalence is a necessary indicator of progress.

4. Indicator 5.3.1: Proportion of women who were married or in a union before age 18.

   By identifying “child marriage” as a form of GBV, the article implies that the rate of child marriage is a key metric for measuring the elimination of this harmful practice.

5. Indicator 16.3.3: Proportion of the population who have experienced a dispute in the past two years and who accessed a formal or informal dispute resolution mechanism, by type of mechanism.

   The article’s critique that “laws are weak or unenforced” and that survivors lack “access to justice” implies the need to measure whether survivors can and do access justice systems. The availability of “legal help” through support organizations is also mentioned as a critical service.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: vocal.media