GBV Safe identification and referral Training

Gender-Based Violence
Core Concepts
Gender based violence remains one of the most prevalent human rights violations
in the world. It has reached every corner of the world, knowing no social, economic or
national boundaries. Worldwide, an estimated one in three women will experience
physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime. Gender-based violence threatens the health,
mental health, dignity, security and independence of its survivors. Also, survivors of GBV
suffer from these consequences in silence, fearing stigma and dishonor from the society.
In a patriarchal country like Lebanon, gender issues are a priority and one of the most
urgent issues to solve because of how much they affect women, and how many women
they affect.
In the coming months, MdM staff will be trained on basic GBV concepts as well as
safe identification and referrals to hopefully, reach as many survivors as possible, to
empower them and provide them with the care, support and dignity that they deserve.
Training will be given to staff in Beirut, Zahle and Tripoly MdM offices in English and
Arabic languages respectively.
The following concepts and definitions will be explained through activities and
discussions during the training:
Core Concepts to understand gender-based violence:
- Sex and Gender
- Power/ Violence/ Consent
- Gender-Based Violence
- Survivor Centered Approach
- Disclosures and referrals
Activity 1: What is the difference between sex and gender?
- Sex: Refers to the biological differences between women and men.
They are generally permanent and universal.
- Gender: Refers to the socially constructed roles and responsibilities of women and
men, in a given culture or location.
These roles are influenced by perceptions and expectations arising from cultural,
political, environmental, economic, social, and religious factors, as well as custom,
law, class, ethnicity, and individual or institutional bias.
Gender attitudes and behaviors are learned and can be changed.
Gender differences can be seen in several situations:
- Socially: Man is seen as head of the household and chief bread-winner who deals
with the public sphere. Woman is seen as nurturer and care-giver who deals with the
private sphere
- Politically: Men are more involved in national- and higher-level politics.
Women more involved at the local level in activities linked to their domestic roles.
- Educationally: Differences in educational opportunities and expectations of girls and
boys: family resources directed to boy’s rather than girl’s education; girls streamed
into less-challenging academic tracks.
- Economically: Differences in women’s and men’s access to lucrative careers and
control of financial and other productive resources: credit and loans; land ownership
Activity 2: What is the relationship between power, informed consent, and gender-based
violence?
Power:
The ability to influence or control and includes access to decision making.
Power can be physical, economic, political and social
Informed Consent:
The person has to have all 4 to give informed consent:
- All necessary information is provided free of coercion and threats
- Both parties are above the age of 18
- The individual is mentally sound
- The is an equitable power relationship between the individuals involved.
Activity 3: Gender-Based Violence:
An umbrella term for any harmful act that is perpetrated against a person’s will, and
that is based on socially ascribed (gender) differences between males and females.
Type of GBV:
Sexual Assault Physical Assault Emotional/Psychological Early Marriage
Sexual assault is any sexual
activity that occurs against
a person’s will.
It involves situations in
which the survivor does not
or cannot consent to the
Non accidental harm to the
body caused by the use of
force, which results in pain,
injury or a change in the
person’s natural physical
state.
Psychological or Emotional
abuse is behaviour that
has a harmful effect on a
vulnerable adult’s
emotional health and
development.
is defined as the
marriage or
union between
two people in
which one or
both parties are
sexual activity which is
occurring.
Ex: - Unwanted sexual
touching (grabbing,
touching, stroking, etc)
- Stalking
- Child sexual abuse
- Sexual harassment
- Drug facilitated
sexual assault (date
rape drug)
- Incest
-Rape
Some examples are: hitting,
slapping, pushing, kicking,
misuse of medication,
restraint, inappropriate
sanctions, rough handling.
Ex: emotional abuse,
threats of harm or
abandonment, deprivation
of contact, humiliation,
blaming, controlling,
intimidation, coercion,
harassment, verbal abuse.
younger than 18
years of age.
Last type of GBV is:
Denial of Resources, Opportunities or Services:
Denial of rightful access to economic resources/assets or livelihood opportunities,
education, health or other social services.
Consequences of GBV:
Physical Health
Consequences
Psychological Consequences Social Health Consequences
• Physical injury
• HIV and STIs
• Unintended
pregnancy
• Complications of
pregnancy and
childbirth
• Maternal mortality
• Unsafe abortion
• Death
• Post-traumatic stress
disorder
• Insecurity
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Fear
• Self-hate
• Shame
• Self-blame
• Suicidal thoughts
and/or attempts
• Blaming the victim
• Social stigma
• Social rejection and
isolation
• Rejection by partner and/or
family
• Loss of ability to function in
the community
Some Warning Signs of Abuse:
- Hematomas, wounds, fractures, dislocations
- Repeated/ unexplained injuries
- Unexplained chronic pain
- Adverse reproductive outcomes, such as multiple unintended pregnancies and/or
terminations, delayed pregnancy care, or adverse birth outcomes
- Unexplained genital or anal injury, such as pain, sores, bleeding or discharge from
the genitalia or anus
- Unexplained genitourinary symptoms, such as pain during urination, frequent
bladder or kidney infections
- Repeated vaginal or anal bleeding and sexually transmitted infections
- Intrusive partner or spouse who insists on being present in consultations.
- Symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, sleep disorders.
- Pregnancy in a child unable to legally consent to sexual intercourse.
- Any STI in a child beyond the perinatal acquisition period.
- Inappropriate or overly sexualized behaviors in underaged individuals.
- Restlessness, irritability and aggressive behavior in underaged individuals.
- Isolation, social exclusion, integration difficulties
- Absenteeism at work
- Decreased productivity and skills at work
- Job loss
- Decrease in joyful activities
- Lack of participation in social activities.
Priority Services for GBV survivors:
1- Health services (treating injuries/ CMR/ Medical documentation/ forensics Dr)
2- Psychosocial services (Emotional support/ one to one case management/ skills
training programs)
3- Legal services (legal protection and assistance)
4- Security protection services (physical safety/ safe house and shelter)
• Ensure the physical safety of the survivor
• Guarantee confidentiality
• Respect the wishes, the rights, and the dignity of the survivor
• Ensure non-discrimination
Do not:
- Share the survivor’s story with someone else
- Share the survivor’s information without his/her consent
- Take unnecessary information from the survivor
- Coerce the survivor into accepting a specific service
- Give advice
- Discriminate or judge the survivor
- Blame the survivor in any way
- Make promises you can’t keep
- Withhold certain information from the survivor
Do:
- Respect the survivor’s wishes and capacities
- Show him/her that you believe his/her story
- Be clear about your role and limitations
- Refer confidentially after having taken the survivor’s consent