Awareness initiative against gender-based violence highlights pandemic impact
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The Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence is in the middle of a 16 days of action to raise awareness. Photo by William Alatriste/City Council
By ENDGBV Voices Committee
The annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence campaign runs from November 25th, UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to December 10th, UN International Human Rights Day. Each year advocates and activists raise awareness to the fact that across the globe, girls, women, transgender, and gender nonbinary individuals are targeted victims of violence simply because of their gender identity or gender expression. According to the UN’s latest estimates, nearly 1 in 3 women aged 15 years or older, around the world have been subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner, non-partner, or both, at least once in their lifetime, indicating that levels of violence against women and girls have remained largely unchanged over the last decade.
COVID-19 has “exacerbated all the risk factors for violence against women and girls, including unemployment and poverty, and reinforced many of the root causes such as gender stereotypes and harmful social norms.” Also, “the economic fallout is expected to push 47 million more women and girls into extreme poverty in 2021, reversing the decades of progress and perpetuating structural inequalities that reinforce violence against women and girls.”
In addition, according to the impact survey released in New York City in September 2021, COVID-19 resulted in an increase in unreported instances of gender-based violence and responses to the survey indicate that through the pandemic, survivors’ experiences of abuse grew worse, as did their financial, work and housing situations. But several other contributing factors have intensified violence against women. Their disenfranchisement in society, racial inequity, disparity in representation, media narratives and the biases faced by Black women and women of color are all major facets increasing their vulnerability. The 2020 Report on the Intersection of Domestic Violence, Race/Ethnicity and Sex states that in New York City alone, “communities of color are disproportionately affected, with Black females being particularly adversely impacted. In addition, communities of color enduring economic strain (e.g., high unemployment, low median household income, etc.) experience a disproportionate impact: the communities with high rates of poverty, low median income and high rates of unemployment have a higher percentage of Black or African American residents, compared to the rest of New York City.”
The criminalization of survivorship is also a major issue within society. In family court for one, survivors are being institutionally forced to coparent with abusers and are criticized for co-parenting failures. Yet the real issue is the imbalance in many coparenting relationships and the power imbalance often inherently present within them. In addition, the threat of ACS results in revictimization, as survivors are essentially blamed for having their children in unsafe situations. The intersection report also states that “survivors who consider or decide to leave abusive relationships face barriers in accessing support services. Systemic inequality and institutional racism impeded access to effective and appropriate domestic violence services, enabling domestic violence by further isolating survivors. It is important to acknowledge that our institutions-through policies, practices and procedures-contribute to prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against minority or marginalized groups on the bases of race, ethnicity, sex, immigration status, or socio-economic status.”
Based on an analysis by survivedandpunished.org, for many survivors, the experiences of domestic abuse, rape and other forms of gender violence are bound up with systems of incarceration and police violence. Many survivors are prosecuted for being forced to partake in illegal activities with their abusive partners or are convicted of self-defending actions against their abusers. These are not often seen as deserving of advocacy or resources, which undermines their safety and the security of their children.
In New York City, gender-based violence and intimate partner violence continues to rise. During “16 Days,” events are held across the city to share critical information about resources. Orange is the color of 16 Days, and it represents a brighter future, free from violence against women and girls. People are encouraged to wear orange on November 30th to spread awareness, and post photos on social media with the hashtags #NYCAgainstGBV and #OrangeTheWorld. Also, interested people can become familiar with various forms of GBV and other intersecting interpersonal violence issues, the impact that interpersonal violence has on individuals and the community, and to hear about best practices we can implement in our daily lives to respond to survivors by attending the December 8th event, “Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the Community: What Is It and What Can We Do?” In addition, individuals may participate in bystander intervention training to learn how to Stand Up Against Street Harassment in partnership with Hollaback! and L’Oreal Paris and help make our streets a safer place for all.
16 Days is an organizing strategy by individuals, institutions, and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. While the types of gender-based violence differs across contexts and geographic locations, everyone has an integral role to play in its elimination. We need a “transformative approach, fostering critical examination of gender roles, regimes and practices, while seeking to create or strengthen equitable gender norms and dynamics for fundamental, lasting changes for women and girls” and survivors must be supported through the intersection of gender violence and criminalization within their lives.
Domestic violence is a sociological issue. We all must address our demons and malignancies, assess our biases, and consider how the imbalances and inequity in society result in the phenomenon. There are no good victims or bad victims.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, help is available:Call 311 to be connected to the nearest NYC Family Justice Center, find resources and support in NYC by searching the city’s HOPE Resource Directory online at www.nyc.gov/NYCHOPE Call the City’s 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-621-4673 for immediate safety planning, shelter assistance, and other resources. In an emergency, dial 911.
