Report on the Pervasiveness of Violence Against Women and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Global Challenge to SDG 5

The persistent and widespread issue of violence against women, perpetrated by partners, acquaintances, and strangers, represents a significant impediment to global progress. This crisis directly contravenes the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality), particularly Target 5.2, which calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against all women and girls. The multifaceted nature of this violence, encompassing domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault, necessitates a comprehensive analysis to inform effective, SDG-aligned interventions.

Multifaceted Causality and the Need for a Holistic Approach

A comprehensive review of 285 risk factor studies indicates that the root causes of violence against women are complex and cannot be attributed solely to the actions of either the victim or the perpetrator. This finding underscores the necessity of a systemic approach that addresses broader societal and structural issues, in line with the interconnected nature of the Sustainable Development Goals.

• Domestic Violence: A violation of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) within the family unit.
• Intimate Partner Violence: Directly undermines SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
• Sexual Violence: A severe human rights violation that hinders progress across multiple SDGs.

The normalization of such violence within communities, as illustrated by incidents where repeated abuse becomes tragically accepted, highlights a collective failure to uphold the principles of justice and human dignity central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Sexual Violence as a Critical Barrier to Sustainable Development

Sexual violence is an especially egregious form of gender-based violence that often co-occurs with other types of abuse. Addressing it is fundamental to achieving several key development targets.

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality: Sexual violence is a tool of oppression that perpetuates gender inequality. Eliminating it is a prerequisite for empowering women and girls.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The profound physical and psychological trauma resulting from sexual violence creates long-term health burdens for individuals and systems.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The failure to prevent sexual violence and provide justice for survivors erodes trust in institutions and undermines the rule of law.

Conclusion: A Call to Action for SDG Implementation

A deeper understanding of the complex drivers behind violence against women is essential for developing strategies that are not only effective but also aligned with the global commitment to sustainable development. Achieving a world free from this violence requires a concerted effort to advance the following goals:

• Strengthening legal and institutional frameworks to protect women and ensure accountability for perpetrators, in line with SDG 16.
• Investing in education and public awareness campaigns to challenge discriminatory social norms and promote gender equality, contributing to SDG 4 and SDG 5.
• Ensuring access to comprehensive health, social, and legal services for survivors, fulfilling the mandate of SDG 3.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article directly addresses the core themes of SDG 5 by focusing on the “disheartening levels of violence” faced by women, including “domestic violence,” “spousal abuse,” “family violence,” “intimate partner violence,” and “sexual violence.” The entire premise of the article is about understanding and reducing violence against women, which is a fundamental aspect of achieving gender equality.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is relevant as the article discusses severe forms of violence that undermine peace and security. The anecdote of a woman’s “violent death” in Brazil, which followed “years of torment,” points to a failure of justice and protection systems. Reducing “all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere” is a key component of SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  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.
     The article’s focus on “violence against women,” specifically from “husbands, boyfriends, dates, colleagues and sometimes strangers,” directly aligns with this target. It explicitly names “sexual violence” as a primary focus and mentions various forms of abuse that occur in both private (“domestic violence,” “intimate partner violence”) and public spheres.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
     The story of the woman in Brazil who suffered a “violent death” at the hands of her husband is a direct example of the issue this target aims to address. The article’s broader discussion of violence against women contributes to the overall goal of reducing violence and related fatalities.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicators for Target 5.2

  1. Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner.
     This is implied by the article’s reference to “disheartening levels of violence from husbands, boyfriends, dates” and its use of terms like “domestic violence,” “spousal abuse,” and “intimate partner violence.” Measuring the prevalence of such violence is the first step toward reducing it.
  2. Indicator 5.2.2: Proportion of women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to sexual violence by persons other than an intimate partner.
     The article mentions that women face violence from “colleagues and sometimes strangers,” which directly corresponds to violence from non-partners, as measured by this indicator.

• Indicator for Target 16.1

  1. Indicator 16.1.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age.
     The anecdote about the woman’s “violent death” is an instance of what this indicator tracks. The article highlights that this death was the culmination of years of abuse, pointing to gender-based homicide, a key concern measured by this indicator when disaggregated by sex.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: latterdaysaintmag.com